Med Student Charged After Shoving Elderly Man into Subway Train

A Brooklyn medical student is facing an attempted murder charge after police say he shoved a 73-year-old grandfather into a moving subway train during a terrifying, unprovoked attack in the Bronx on New Year’s Day.

The incident unfolded around 3:30 a.m., just hours after the start of 2026, at the 161st Street–Yankee Stadium subway station. Authorities say Julio Figueroa was standing on the platform when a complete stranger suddenly approached him and pushed him toward a southbound 4 train as it pulled into the station.

According to police, Figueroa was struck by the moving train, bounced back onto the platform, and suffered serious head injuries.

The suspect, 29-year-old Anton Aleshin, was arrested shortly after the incident. Police say Aleshin, a medical student based in Brooklyn, is charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and harassment. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. He is expected back in court Tuesday.

Aleshin’s attorney, who is affiliated with the Legal Aid Society, declined to comment on the case.

Prosecutors say Aleshin is part of a residency program at Brookdale University Hospital. A spokesperson for One Brooklyn Health, which oversees Brookdale, also declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Figueroa remains hospitalized in the ICU at Lincoln Hospital, where he is recovering from his injuries. His niece, Venis Falu, said he required stitches to the back of his head and has little memory of the violent encounter.

“He doesn’t really remember what happened,” Falu said.

She explained that her uncle, a grandfather to 17, had been on his way home after spending the evening at Empire City Casino when his night took a horrifying turn.

“It’s crazy that this could happen to a person who normally goes out, doesn’t bother anybody,” Falu said.

Investigators have not identified a motive for the attack, and family members say they are struggling to understand why it happened.

“To me, it had to be either he was drunk or having a bad day, but that’s no excuse to hurt anybody,” Falu added. “It made no sense.”