The 34-year-old Brooklyn resident was initially charged with attempted murder, assault and other charges, but in light of Williams’ death, those charges have been upgraded to murder, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said.
His alleged attacker, Honduran national Bairon Hernandez, 34, was arrested March 10 at a homeless shelter — and his charges have been upgraded to second-degree murder following Williams’ death, court records show.
An elderly Air Force veteran who was shoved onto the tracks at a Manhattan subway station in a random attack has died of his injuries, and the alleged killer now faces murder charges.
“Not only did Cecil McKenzie return to the subway after being banned for prior sexual abuse, he did so to commit the same crime,” said District Attorney Bragg. “A jury found he has repeatedly harmed women on the subway, and he will now serve a significant prison sentence. I thank my office’s prosecutors for ensuring accountability in this case.”
“This extremely violent and coercive cycle of abuse underscores why intimate partner violence remains a severely underreported crime. This incredibly brave survivor managed to break free and today spoke powerfully at her abuser’s sentencing. We urge anyone suffering abuse at the hands of a partner to call our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373.”
