Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of CLAUDE WHITE, 34, for fatally stabbing 32-year-old Tavon Silver on the 4 train following a dispute over drugs. WHITE is charged in a New York Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Robbery in the Third Degree. [1]
“Claude White’s alleged use of violence ended in tragedy, and now the family and loved ones of Mr. Silver are grieving over this terrible loss. Whether it is during rush hour, late at night, or early in the morning, our subway system should be a safe way for all New Yorkers to travel and commute,” said District Attorney Bragg.
According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on June 17, 2023, at approximately 4:00 am, WHITE was riding a southbound 4 train when he began arguing with Silver in a dispute about drugs. As WHITE held Silver down while repeatedly hitting him, he grabbed a steak knife that belong to Silver and stabbed him twice in the chest.
WHITE then removed the drugs from Silver’s bag and exited the subway at the 23rd street station. He threw the knife into the subway tunnel and put his sweatshirt in the trash. He was arrested two days later with blood stains on his pants.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Victoria Meyer and Reginald Greene, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Samuel David (Chief of Trial Bureau 80) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Analyst Sophie Horan is assisting with the case.
D.A. Bragg thanked NYPD Detective Sean McKinnon and the 13th Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Frank DiFranco and the Manhattan South Homicide Squad.
Defendant Information:
CLAUDE WHITE
Bronx, New York
Charged:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, two counts
- Robbery in the Third 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.