Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of ANDRE CHEEVES, 35, for allegedly attempting to attack a 51-year-old man with a metal bike chain while making anti-Hispanic remarks at the Fulton Street subway station in June 2025. CHEEVES is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime and Menacing in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, among other charges. [1]

“Andre Cheeves allegedly tried to hit a stranger with a heavy chain in an unprovoked hate crime inside of a subway station,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Targeting and harming Manhattanites based on their race is abhorrent and will not be tolerated. Hate crimes impact victims on a profound level and we are here to help: please call our Hate Crimes Unit at 212-335-3100.”      

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on June 27, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the victim was waiting for his train on the northbound 4 and 5 train platform at the Fulton Street station. Unprovoked, CHEEVES allegedly approached the victim, while holding a metal bike chain, and demanded the victim ‘return’ CHEEVES’ phone. The victim, who did not know CHEEVES and was not in possession of CHEEVES’ phone, started backing away from him.   

As alleged, CHEEVES grew angrier at the victim and began swinging the chain at him. Attempting to protect himself, the victim removed his backpack and held it up as a shield to block the chain from striking him. CHEEVES continued swinging the chain at the victim while allegedly yelling racist remarks, including stating, in substance, “f— Hispanics,” several times.  

CHEEVES allegedly chased the victim out of the station, while holding the chain. The victim flagged down nearby police officers, who arrested CHEEVES and recovered a metal bike chain.

Assistant D.A.s Phillip Klindt (Trial Bureau 70) and Molly Patrick (Special Victims Division) are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Constantine Coritsidis (Deputy Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), Hannah Yu (Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Hate Crimes Major Case Analyst Julie Anne Doreen Lim and Senior Investigative Analyst Caleb Brown are providing valuable assistance.     

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly the officers of Transit District 4 and the 1st Precinct.          

 

Defendant Information:

ANDRE CHEEVES

Brooklyn, NY

 

Charged:

• Attempted Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class D felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Menacing in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class E felony, one count
• Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 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.