NYPD has arrested a suspect who shoved a 58-year-old Burmese women down the subway stairs in an attempted robbery in July, leading to her death days later.
David Robinson, 53, is suspected of approaching and assaulting Than Wtwe Than and her 22-year-old son when they were leaving the Canal Street “N” subway station in Manhattan on July 28.
Police identified Robinson from surveillance camera footage.
According to the police, Robinson tried to forcibly remove a bag from the two victims, causing them to fall down the subway stairs, leaving the mother with a severe injury to the head. Than was hospitalized due to her critical condition, but soon entered a coma and died days later at nearby Bellevue Hospital.
?UPDATE: 58-year-old-female victim in this case has passed away & the crime has been reclassified as a HOMICIDE. Have you seen DAVID ROBINSON? He is wanted in connection to this incident. If you any info, DM @NYPDTips, or call them at 800-577-TIPS. All calls are anonymous. https://t.co/fdUj0j3Sc0 pic.twitter.com/4mMrjbPgoq
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 29, 2021
NYPD arrested Robinson on Saturday on charges of murder and manslaughter in relation to the incident, after a tipster spotted him at Central Park, New York Daily News reported.
According to Daily News, Than and her son had immigrated from Burma roughly three years ago. two were heading to a doctor’s appointment that summer day when they were accosted by Robinson. Than worked as a seamstress making aprons.
Robinson’s attack came at a time when the NYPD reported an increase in crime in the city. In a news release in June, the NYPD said that overall crime rate had increased by 22 percent in May, compared with the same period in 2020.
Following the assault against Than, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) communications director Tim Minton called on prosecutors “to be as aggressive in court as the NYPD was in its investigation,” Fox News reported.
“This was a terrible crime over the summer and our hearts continue to go out to the victim’s family,” Minton said on Saturday.
He also noted the important role of surveillance cameras in subway stations.
“Once again, it is clear that with cameras in every subway station, anyone who preys on transit riders can expect to be identified and face justice,” Minton said.
MTA said in a statement that it supports installing additional policing and more security cameras in the subway system, adding that New York City Transit has sped up its installation of cameras to “a historic pace.”
“For this specific incident, we are grateful our cameras captured the perpetrator, significantly aiding the NYPD investigation,” the MTA said.
Pezou : NYPD Arrests Man Suspected of Attempted Subway Robbery That Killed Burmese Woman in July