Title: I Read About a Man Who Was Stabbed on the J Train While Helping a Passenger — and I Can’t Stop Thinking About It
I came across a story this morning that shook me—a man was stabbed to death while trying to help another passenger on the J train in New York. And honestly, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
According to the reports, the man saw a fellow rider being harassed and stepped in to help. It was a split-second decision rooted in courage—the kind we all hope we’d make. But tragically, it cost him his life. The attacker pulled out a knife during the confrontation, and the Good Samaritan didn’t survive.
As I read, I felt a mix of sadness, fear, and admiration. I ride public transit all the time. You never know when something could happen. And yet, this man chose to act when others might’ve looked away. That’s bravery. That’s humanity.
It made me ask myself: What would I do in that moment? Would I intervene? Would I freeze? It’s easy to say we’d all do the right thing, but this story reminds me that doing the right thing can come with real risk.
What breaks my heart even more is how violence on subways and public places is starting to feel like just another headline. But we can’t let that happen. Behind every headline is a human being—a son, friend, coworker, neighbor. Someone who didn’t deserve to die trying to help.
We owe it to him to remember his name, to share his story, and to keep talking about how we can make public spaces safer. Because no one should have to choose between doing the right thing and staying alive.
