Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of STEVEN SYLVESTER, 34, for attempting to shoot a 35-year-old Good Samaritan and shooting a 32-year-old man on a crowded train at an Upper East Side station in June 2024. SYLVESTER is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree. He is additionally charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. [1]

“As alleged, Steven Sylvester carried a loaded firearm onto a public, crowded train and intended to use it against a Good Samaritan, shooting an innocent bystander in the process,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This alleged conduct is very serious and put fellow subway riders at risk of being injured. We will continue holding people accountable who misuse our transit system as a hub for dangerous weapons and violence and I wish the victim a speedy recovery.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on June 2, 2024, at approximately 2:25 a.m., SYLVESTER got into a physical altercation with his girlfriend while onboard a crowded, northbound 4 train. Noticing the incident, a Good Samaritan intervened by grabbing SYLVESTER from behind and a struggle ensued.

As the train entered the 86th Street and Lexington Avenue station and the doors opened, SYLVESTER pulled out a firearm and fired a shot towards the Good Samaritan, who was a few feet away, missing him. The bullet hit the train door, denting it, and hit the window of the train car. The bullet ricocheted off the window, striking a man as he entered the train car. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the left hand and graze wounds to the torso.

SYLVESTER fled the station and was eventually arrested on June 6, 2024. The next day, pursuant to a search warrant of his apartment, officers recovered clothing and accessories SYLVESTER was seen wearing at the time of the incident. They also recovered a magazine and bullets.

Assistant D.A. Michael Kelley is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. David Hammer (Chief of Trial Bureau 70), Christopher Prevost (Deputy Chief of the Trial Division), Shawn McMahon (Deputy Chief of the Trial Division), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Paralegal Alexa Grayson (Trial Bureau 70), Investigative Analyst Mihir Sardesai (Trial Bureau 70), Senior Investigator Lou Capolupo, and Investigators Noah Dent, Luis Chuquiralao, and Steven Mariscal are providing valuable assistance in this case. Former Paralegal Henry Brody also provided valuable assistance.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Arresting Officer Michael Valdez (19th Precinct Detective Squad).

 

Defendant Information:

STEVEN SYLVESTER

New York, NY

Charged:

 

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.