A straphanger died after being pushed in front of an approaching train Monday in midtown Manhattan, police said.
Ki-Suck Han, 58, of Queens, tried to climb back onto the platform about 12:30 p.m. and yelled at the subway train to stop, but it was too late, according to officials. He was smashed between the car and the platform.
Han was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in critical condition, and he died shortly after, police said.
Police were looking Monday night for the suspect, identified by witnesses as a black man, age 20 to 30, and wearing a white T-shirt, a down jacket, knit cap, and short dreadlocks.
Witnesses reported that the suspect was mumbling to himself before he pushed Han, police said. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage.
Police said Monday night that Han and the suspect were seen arguing before Han was shoved to the tracks below.
Han was hit by a train on the N/Q/R line at the 49th Street and Seventh Avenue station as witnesses on a subway platform watched in horror.
Police shut down the station for several hours during their investigation.
Witnesses said the confrontation created frightening chaos during the busy lunchtime rush.
"It was a lot of confusion. It was a lot of people getting scared," said witness Patrick Gomez, 37, of New Jersey.
"A fight between a kid and" an older man "is just crazy."
With Tim Herrera, Ivan Pereira and AP
Copyright 2012 - Newsday
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
