Introduction to the Incident
David Mazariegos was arrested Tuesday for the fatal beating of Nicola Tanzi at the Jay Street-MetroTech station.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
The suspect who allegedly beat a man to death at the Jay Street-MetroTech subway station has been charged with murder and is due to appear in court on Thursday.
Arrest and Charges
Cops said 25-year-old David Mazariegos was arrested in Times Square on Tuesday night after nearby officers recognized him from a photo distributed by the NYPD. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, records show, on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and identity theft. Mazariegos pleaded not guilty and was released but immediately re-arrested to face additional charges in Brooklyn.
Officers marched Mazariegos out of the 84th Precinct in Downtown Brooklyn in handcuffs late Wednesday night. He was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Thursday on charges of murder, robbery, and criminal possession of stolen property. He pleaded not guilty, court records show, and was ordered to be held without bail after the hearing.
Police brought Mazariegos out of the 84th Precinct stationhouse in Downtown Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Details of the Attack
The man allegedly brutally attacked 64-year-old Bensonhurst resident Nicola Tanzi at the Jay Street-MetroTech station on Oct. 7.
According to the criminal complaint, video surveillance footage showed that Mazariegos punched Tanzi in the face, kicked him repeatedly in the face, and stomped on his head at least ten times. Mazariegos allegedly also told a detective from the 84th Precinct that he had attacked Tanzi and stolen his wallet. He then fled the scene, eventually boarding a Bronx-bound 2 train at the nearby Hoyt Street station.
The attack left Tanzi unconscious and unresponsive “with trauma about the body,” per the NYPD. He was rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died shortly after the attack. According to the criminal complaint, Tanzi had sustained a skull fracture, a crushed nasal bone, and a bruised hip.
Aftermath and Investigation
Mazariegos later used Tanzi’s credit card to buy a sword, socks, a hat and herbs, per the criminal complaint. He was allegedly in possession of a sword when officers found him in Manhattan on Tuesday night.
The pair did not appear to know each other, and the exact cause of the altercation is not known. According to the Daily News, Mazariegos “didn’t like the way [Tanzi] looked at him” as Tanzi held a gate open for him inside the station. Mazariegos has been arrested several times this year, court records show, and was charged with assault and aggravated harassment in a case in Manhattan this summer.
The Jay-Street MetroTech station after the fatal attack on Tuesday.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Victim and Suspect Background
According to Gothamist, Tanzi was a security guard who was active in the local Catholic community.
Including Tanzi, four people have been murdered in New York City subways this year. Citywide, transit crime is down 4.3%, according to the latest police statistics, and the subway system just marked its safest quarter in recorded history, per the NYPD. Murder is also down more than 17% across the city.
Transit Crime in Brooklyn
But in Brooklyn, transit crime is up 2.3% year-to-date, with 393 incidents reported as of Oct. 5. In August, a man was slashed onboard an A train at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn streets station after he accidentally bumped another passenger, and an MTA worker was stabbed inside a subway tunnel in Crown Heights after he confronted a trespasser on Sept. 29.
Conclusion
The fatal beating at the Jay Street-MetroTech station is a disturbing incident that highlights the need for increased safety measures in New York City’s subway system. As the investigation continues, it is essential to consider the broader context of transit crime in Brooklyn and its impact on the community.
FAQs
Q: What happened at the Jay Street-MetroTech station?
A: A 64-year-old man, Nicola Tanzi, was fatally beaten by David Mazariegos at the Jay Street-MetroTech station on Oct. 7.
Q: What charges has David Mazariegos been arrested for?
A: Mazariegos has been charged with murder, robbery, and criminal possession of stolen property.
Q: What is the current status of transit crime in Brooklyn?
A: Transit crime is up 2.3% year-to-date in Brooklyn, with 393 incidents reported as of Oct. 5.
Q: What is the background of the victim, Nicola Tanzi?
A: Tanzi was a 64-year-old security guard who was active in the local Catholic community.
Q: What is the status of the investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and Mazariegos is being held without bail.
