Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the prison sentence of KAMAL SEMRADE, 42, to 20 years in state prison for pushing a woman into a departing train at the Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street station in May 2023, leaving her paralyzed from the shoulders down. On March 9, 2026, a New York State Supreme Court jury convicted SEMRADE of one count each of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree.
“Kamal Semarde violently pushed a woman into a moving train, uprooting her life and leaving her with catastrophic, permanent injuries, including paralysis,” said District Attorney Bragg. “After the attack, Semrade callously fled, leaving the victim helpless on the platform. While nothing can undo the profound harm caused, I hope this sentence brings a measure of justice as the victim continues her recovery and works to rebuild her life.”
As proven at trial, on May 21, 2023, SEMRADE boarded the same train as the 35-year-old woman, who was commuting to work, at the Roosevelt Avenue stop in Queens. He then got off at the same subway stop as her at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue before the unprovoked attack. At approximately 6:05 a.m., SEMRADE walked right behind the woman, who was adjacent to the train, then to her left side. He used both his hands to shove the woman by the head and neck, with all his force, into the moving subway car, which was accelerating to leave the station.
The victim’s face and head hit the train and she was flung back onto the platform, fracturing her spine. Following spinal surgery, the victim remains paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Immediately after the attack, SEMRADE travelled down the stairs to another platform and eventually fled the station. Upon returning to his shelter in Queens later that evening, SEMRADE placed the clothing he was wearing out for laundry service. He was identified by shelter employees based on an NYPD CrimeStoppers post and arrested two days after the attack.
Assistant D.A.s Katelyn Damanis and Megan Acosta handled the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Annie Siegel and Harrison Schweiloch (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Bureau 60), Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistants Timothy Savastano (Trial Bureau 60) and Taylor Wedderburn (Trial Bureau 60), and Investigative Analyst Beatriz Fonts-Castillo (Trial Bureau 60) provided invaluable assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly the Detective Eric Close (Manhattan Transit Squad); Sergeant Thomas Gerding of the 32nd Precinct (formerly of the Manhattan Transit Squad; Officer George Cintron (Transit Division District 1); and Detective Michael Rivera of the 40th Precinct Detective Squad (formerly Transit Division District 1). He also thanked the two Good Samaritans, who stayed and helped the victim until officers arrived.
Defendant Information:
KAMAL SEMRADE
Queens, NY
Convicted:
- Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
Sentenced:
- 20 years in state prison
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