Subway Crime Blotter

Yesterday, on a 7 train in Queens, an insane (our word, not the papers) subway passenger attacked 18 year old Jose Velez, biting his cheek, and then bit off Velez's 71 year old grandfather's thumb. The attack occured at 5PM in a crowded train car, when 26 year old Ivan Rodriguez first jumped on Velez, screaming, "I'm bad. You're nothing. I'm a bada--" and ripped off his own shirt, then bit Velez and grandfather, Reynaldo Hidalgo. Doctors were unable to reattach Hildalgo's left thumb, while Rodriguez was arraigned on two counts of first-degree assault.

On Mondayat 4AM, two gun wielding thugs, Silverio Rivera and Pedro Rivilla, tried to rob another passenger on the W train. As the train pulled into Union Square, the passenger, Otelio Tapea, an illegal Mexican immigrant, grabbed their gun and as the three wrestled for the gun, Rivera was shot. Tapea fled the scene and was later arrested. When police arrived to investigate at the station, Rivilla claimed he and Rivera had been attacked by a Mexican gang. Rivera is on life support, charges are pending against Tapea.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 21, 2004 9:51 AM

Comments [rss]

Greg S.

I believe the overall knife cannot be over 8" (including the handle), the blade cannot be over 3" maybe, but I think it's actually 4". I'm not sure, this is just coming from someone I knew who was a police officer.

Switchblades are definitely illegal, as are hunting/bowie knives.

990000

I thought anything over 3 inches was illegal.

Greg S.

You should always carry a form of protection with you (only if you know how to use it).

I always carry a Smith & Wesson emergency knife (a swat knife, 3" blade -- anything over 8" is illegal) the kind EMT workers carry (I actually see many people with this on the subways).

I heard Ron Kuby on the radio say that it is within the limits of the law to use "deadly force" if you believe someone is trying to kill you. Also, I heard Tapea won't be charged with a crime (but maybe will be charged for being in the country illegally).

In NYC you always need to be prepared for a life-or-death encounter, no matter how safe Guiliani & Bloomberg have made the streets.

Eric Demay

This kind of thing just doesn't happen in Montreal. The craziest we got are subway-suicides.

Jen

The thing is that Tapea had been arrested for assault earlier, and he is an illegal immigrant.

Andy

I hope this was actually a gang shootout. I'd like to think that if I was being attacked by 2 gun-wielding thugs, defended myself, and accidently shot one of them, I wouldn't be arrested for it.

pjh

interesting how the networks chose to cover crime by and on those of Latino heritage...this reminds of the local news stations that do the nightly crime report or..."tonights most wanted minority"...this is stereotypical journalistic shite and shouldn't be tolerated...not to trivialize what happened. that's terrible regardless

Dietsch

Tapia's story is apparently suspect. According to this morning's dailies, this was a gang shootout.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/156846p-137774c.html

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/16321.htm

I can't find the link right now, but Tuesday's Newsday was already skeptical on the robbery angle, indicating that investigators doubted Tapia's story.

doshin

I was recently attacked by a knife wielding thug right by the 7 train stop on 69th and Roosevelt. Luckily, I was in my cousins car, but he did manage to stab the car. Turns out Stabby was an illegal Mexican immigrant and now faces deportation, which means he should be back on the corner of 69th and Roosevelt in three weeks.

Anyway, what's the point of this story? Despite what they say in rap songs, I was suprised to find that the cops were actually prompt, effective and courteous. Your coppers may vary.