The NYPD arrested a 50-year old Bronx man suspected of lighting a subway car on fire, killing the motorman, and injuring 16 riders.
Nathaniel Avinger was arrested at the Utica station in Brooklyn on Wednesday night for grabbing a woman. He was later charged with murder in the fatal subway fire.
Police released a grainy photo of the suspect in April, but had not made any arrests or released further information about the investigation until this week.
At the end of March, just after 3 a.m., a northbound 2 train erupted in flames as it neared the 110th Street station in Harlem. The operator, 36-year-old Garrett Goble, was reportedly helping passengers get off the train.
His body was later found on the tracks.
Messages to Goble’s widow, Delilah Goble, requesting comment were not returned.
“March 27th was one of the darkest, most painful days in New York City Transit history. Since that day our hearts have been broken,” New York City Interim President Sarah Feinberg wrote in a statement. “NYCT has grieved and mourned Garrett Goble every single day for the last 9 months. Each time we speak with Delilah our hearts are broken all over again and each time we spoke to police, spoke to Garrett’s mother Vicki, or spoke with Garrett’s friends at Transit, they broke again. Nothing will bring Garrett back to NYCT or to his sweet family.”
During every MTA board meeting, when leadership recognizes the more than 130 transit workers who died this year from COVID, Goble is included.
“Every transit worker in the city wants justice for Garrett Goble and his family, and this arrest is a huge first step,” Tony Utano, president of Transit Worker Union Local 100, wrote in a statement. “Garrett was a hero, and he was stolen from us. He was out there serving the public during a health crisis. He helped riders evacuate his train after the fire was set. This was a horrific, horrific crime, and Garrett deserves justice. His family deserves justice.”
The next court date for Avinger is February 3rd, 2021. His attorney hasn’t replied yet to an email requesting comment.
