In Brooklyn, a disagreement on a moving subway train took a violent turn. A video captured the moment when two men arguing on the A train escalated their dispute into a physical confrontation. The police report that during the scuffle, one man took a gun from the other and shot him.

On Thursday evening, a distressing incident occurred on a subway train in Downtown Brooklyn. As the train approached the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station during the busy rush hour, a man was shot in the head and critically injured, according to the authorities.

The events unfolded when a 32-year-old man got on the northbound A train at Nostrand Avenue around 4:45 p.m. Michael Kemper, the Police Department’s Chief of Transit, detailed the sequence of events at a news conference. He mentioned that soon after boarding, the man encountered a 36-year-old who behaved in a manner described by witnesses as "aggressive and provocative."

The altercation between the two men, which began with words, quickly turned physical. Chief Kemper explained that the older man at some point brandished a weapon, which was either a knife or a razor blade, before drawing a gun. In the struggle that ensued, the 32-year-old managed to take the gun and fired multiple shots at the aggressor. Chief Kemper noted that it appeared the men did not know each other prior to this incident.

Footage of the fight posted to social media shows the intense moments leading up to a shooting on a Brooklyn subway train. In the video, the 36-year-old man is seen threatening the 32-year-old, standing over him and declaring, "I will beat you up" before the younger man rises to confront him. As the altercation escalates, other passengers, except for one woman, move away to the opposite end of the train car.

The confrontation grows more violent as the two men grapple on the subway seats. During this struggle, the woman becomes involved, seemingly searching her purse for something before she stabs the 36-year-old in the lower back as he towers over the younger man, assaulting him. Another passenger, wearing a blue sweatshirt and a yellow neon vest, steps in, attempting to break up the fight but only manages to do so momentarily before the skirmish continues.

As a bloodstain appears on the 36-year-old man's white T-shirt, indicating he's been stabbed, he questions, "Did you stab me?" In response, the 32-year-old positions himself protectively in front of the woman, both of them backing up to the end of the subway car. The older man then reaches into his jacket, left on a seat, and pulls out a gun, confronting them with, "You stabbed me, right?"

The situation causes other riders, including the individual recording the video, to retreat further into the car and take cover. Amidst the ensuing panic, the last image of the 32-year-old man shows him attempting to shield the woman with his body. Although the video does not capture the moment the train arrives at the station and the doors open, the sound of gunfire erupts, with riders scattering in search of safety. Four shots are heard in the video, marking a terrifying end to the confrontation.

As the train made its way into the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, the sound of gunshots was heard by police officers present, prompting an immediate response, as stated by Chief Kemper. The man who suffered gunshot wounds was swiftly transported to the hospital, where he was placed in critical condition following surgery, the chief elaborated.

The decision on whether to charge the 32-year-old involved in the shooting, or to consider his actions as self-defense, had not been made by Thursday evening, according to Chief Kemper.

The shooting was labeled as "a horrible tragedy" by Lincoln Restler, the City Council member representing the area. He voiced his concern for the millions of subway riders, saying, “I know it’s unnerving for the four million people who ride the subway every day when a terrible, violent incident like this occurs.”

This incident adds to a series of recent violent occurrences on the subway, raising concerns over safety. In January, a 45-year-old crossing guard was killed on a train in Brooklyn after intervening in a fight. The following month, in the Bronx, a confrontation among teenagers on a train resulted in the death of a 35-year-old man and injuries to five others.

In an effort to address the growing unease among New Yorkers about subway safety, Governor Kathy Hochul last week deployed hundreds of National Guard members and state troopers. Their mission includes checking riders' bags, aimed at deterring crime and helping to quell fears related to the use of the subway system.

Surveys conducted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which is in charge of the subway, often reveal that some passengers think the subway is not safe. However, the actual data does not always support this perception. Recently, there has not been a noticeable rise in crimes within the subway system, and the chance of experiencing a violent crime is quite low.

An analysis by the New York Times in mid-2022 highlighted that there was approximately one violent crime for every million subway rides. Since that time, the crime rate in the subway has decreased while the number of people using the subway has gone up.

The Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, served by the A, C, and G trains, has a police station, known as Transit District 30. Following the shooting incident, trains did not stop at this station for about two hours as police conducted their investigation and advised people to steer clear of the area. However, by 7 p.m., the station was operational again, with trains moving as usual in both directions.

Joyce Philippe, a journalist, uploaded several videos on the social media platform X showing what happened after the shooting. These videos depict a chaotic scene inside a crowded A train at the station, with sounds of shouting from the platform, people seeking cover inside the subway car, and some passengers crying. In one of the videos, passengers are heard calling for the train conductor to close the doors. One person is captured saying, "Where’s the N.Y.P.D.? Oh, my God." Another video features police officers on the platform, with at least one officer pointing his gun.

Janno Lieber, the chief executive of the transit authority, shared his thoughts at the news conference, pointing out, "The victim here, as the chief said, appears to be the aggressor. But the real victims are the people I saw in those videos, who are having a harrowing time because they’re on a train with somebody with a gun."

A 16-year-old student, Natgel Maldonado, witnessed the aftermath of the shooting incident. He was at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station waiting for a southbound train when the northbound A train arrived, and passengers started running from it towards the exit. He found the experience deeply unsettling. "I’m 16 years old and I’ve lived in New York all my life," he said. "This is the first time something like this has happened."

A video uploaded to social media by an ABC News journalist, who happened to be on the train when the shooting occurred, shows passengers huddled on the floor. In the background, police officers' voices could be heard as they shouted from the platform.

At a news briefing, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber reiterated the impact of the shooting on bystanders. He stated, "The real victims are the people I saw in those videos who were having a harrowing time because they’re on a train with somebody with a gun."

Lieber expressed his dismay over the incident, labeling it "outrageous" for someone to bring a gun onto a train and initiate a conflict. He emphasized this event underscores the significance of ongoing efforts by the city and state to remove firearms from public spaces.

In response to the rising concern over subway safety, Governor Hochul took decisive action last week by deploying 750 members of the National Guard to support city police in conducting bag checks at key train station entrances. The Governor, a Democrat, stated that the deployment of uniformed service members was aimed as much at conveying a strong public message as it was at enhancing the safety of mass transit.

However, despite these measures, notable violent incidents have continued to occur, drawing public attention. One such incident involved a passenger who last month slashed a subway conductor in the neck, further highlighting the challenges faced in ensuring the safety of those who use the subway system.

This incident sheds light on broader issues of security and order within the US, highlighting concerns that have global resonance.

The United States has often been viewed, perhaps self-appointed, as a global overseer or the "world's police." This perception is increasingly being questioned, as countries around the world, including India, assert their sovereignty and reject external interference in their domestic matters. The commentary on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India illustrates this dynamic, where India has expressed indifference to the opinions of the US and other Western nations, urging these countries to focus on their internal issues rather than meddling in the affairs of others.

In response to the situation in the US, including the recent subway shooting, there's an acknowledgment from India regarding the importance of closely watching the developments related to human rights and law and order in America. This perspective suggests a shift in the international dialogue, where countries are holding each other accountable, not from a position of hierarchy but as equals concerned with mutual respect for sovereignty and human rights.

This event in New York and the ensuing international reactions underscore the complex interplay of domestic policy, international relations, and the global discourse on human rights and national sovereignty.

The police responded just before 5 p.m. Thursday, at the height of the evening rush hour