An 18-year-old Staten Island resident, Isaiah Collazo, lost his life in a shocking incident on the subway in Brooklyn on Thursday night, when his friend pulled the emergency brake on their northbound D train. 

The stunt, which is illegal and causes delays for other passengers, apparently angered a knife-wielding attacker named Mark Smith, who got into an argument with Collazo before stabbing him in the abdomen. Collazo was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Smith, who has a criminal history that includes robbery and assault charges, turned himself in to the police on Tuesday, after CCTV footage captured him fleeing the scene of the crime. The incident has sparked concerns about subway safety in New York City, even though overall major crimes in the transit system are down this year compared to 2022.

The motive behind the attack appears to be linked to the emergency brake prank, which police have condemned as dangerous and unnecessary. Speaking to the media, NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig described the prank as a “stupid kid” move, and urged subway riders to avoid engaging in such behavior that puts themselves and others in harm’s way.

While subway safety measures such as CCTV cameras and increased police presence have been implemented to deter crime on the subway, incidents like this tragic stabbing highlight the need for increased awareness and vigilance among riders themselves. The subway is a vital transportation network in New York City, but safety concerns must be taken seriously in order to prevent further loss of life and harm.