D.A. Bragg Announces Trial Conviction Of Orsen Reyes In Midtown Subway Assault

Manhattan District Attorney L. Bragg Jr. today announced the trial conviction of ORSEN REYES, 24, for stomping on a 48-year-old man's head and slashing him at the 50th Street subway station in December 2024. A New York State Supreme Court jury convicted REYES on Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree and Assault in the Second Degree, among other charges on April 23, 2026. He is expected to be sentenced on June 24, 2026.

"A jury has convicted Orsen Reyes of carrying out a vicious, unprovoked attack against a stranger that caused significant injuries and could have easily been fatal," said District Attorney Bragg. "The conviction holds him accountable for this prolonged act of violence and reaffirms our commitment to protecting New Yorkers navigating our transit system. I thank the jury for its careful consideration of the case."

As proven at trial, on December 30, 2024, between 1:09 and 1:13 a.m., REYES, who was completely masked, attacked a 48-year-old man from behind on the uptown subway platform inside of the 50th Street station, near West 50th Street and 8th Avenue. Armed with a sharp object, he slashed the victim multiple times and, while wearing white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, he used his foot to stomp on the victim's head multiple times. REYES also grabbed the victim's foot and attempted to pull him towards the tracks. During the attack, witnesses on the downtown platform observed the attack and tried to get help. One witness called 911 and took video of a portion of the attack and of REYES walking away from the victim.

REYES left the station with a bloodied sneaker and hand and walked to the subway station at West 59th Street and Columbus Circle, where he was arrested at approximately 1:31 a.m. Police officers recovered a knife and two screwdrivers that were in his possession.

The victim was brought to Bellevue Hospital where he was hospitalized for six days with a traumatic brain injury, a fractured orbital bone, and multiple lacerations to the neck, face and eye.

Assistant D.A.s Emily Ching and Olivia Stevens (Trial Bureau 60) are handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Harrison Schweiloch and Annie Siegel (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Bureau 60), Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Investigative Analyst John Everett (Trial Bureau 60), Investigator Tania Santana (Investigation Bureau), Trial Preparation Assistants Aidan Tous (Trial Bureau 60), Emmanuel Green (Trial Bureau 60), and Timothy Savastano (Trial Bureau 60) are providing valuable assistance. Former Assistant District Attorney Caroline (Callie) Edgar also provided invaluable assistance in the case.

D.A. Bragg the NYPD's Transit District 1, particularly Sergeant Frank Dello Iacono, Officers Azure Reid, Noel Guzman, Chad Leed, Christian Medina, and Rupert Scully; Officer Keshia Miller of the NYPD Lower Manhattan Security Initiative; MTA Station Agent Deno Jacobs; Mount Sinai EMT Steven Prifti; Dr. Christopher Decker of Bellevue Hospital; and the 911 caller.

Defendant Information:
ORSEN REYES
New York, NY

Convicted:

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, two counts
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, two counts
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, three counts

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