Fresh eyewitness accounts have painted a vivid and terrifying picture of the chaotic moments leading up to the machete attack at Grand Central Terminal on Saturday morning. Anthony Griffin, 44, repeatedly shouted the chilling phrase “I am Lucifer!” before unleashing a sudden and brutal assault on three elderly subway riders, forcing NYPD officers to fatally shoot him after he ignored more than 20 commands to drop his weapon.

The incident unfolded around 9:40 a.m. on the bustling 42nd Street subway platforms inside the iconic Manhattan station. Griffin had arrived on a Manhattan-bound 7 train from Vernon Boulevard in Queens. According to multiple witnesses, he stepped onto the platform already acting erratically, pacing and muttering. Then came the moment that sent shockwaves through the crowd: Griffin loudly and clearly declared, “I am Lucifer!” — repeating the five-word proclamation several times as if addressing everyone around him.

One commuter who was waiting nearby recounted the horror: “It was chaotic and fast. People were screaming and running everywhere. He just started yelling ‘I am Lucifer!’ and then suddenly he had the machete in his hand. No one saw it coming. The platform turned into pure panic in seconds.” Another eyewitness described the declaration echoing across the station: “He said it so clearly, like he wanted the whole world to hear. ‘I am Lucifer!’ It was chilling. Everyone froze for a split second before the screaming started.”

Griffin first struck on the 7 train platform, slashing an 84-year-old man with deep lacerations to his head and face. He then rapidly moved upstairs to the 4/5/6 platform, where he continued the rampage. There, he attacked a 65-year-old man, causing serious head injuries including an open skull fracture, and slashed a 70-year-old woman in the shoulder. All three victims were vulnerable elderly New Yorkers simply trying to go about their Saturday morning when the unprovoked violence exploded.

Two transit officers responded swiftly to the frantic reports and 911 calls flooding in. From the top of the stairs, they spotted Griffin still armed with the large machete and behaving erratically while continuing to proclaim himself as “Lucifer.” Police issued at least 20 verbal commands for him to drop the weapon, even offering help with phrases like “We are going to get you help.” Griffin refused to comply and advanced toward the officers in a threatening manner.

Faced with an imminent danger to themselves and the public, one NYPD officer discharged their firearm, striking Griffin. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Miraculously, no officers or additional bystanders were injured during the confrontation. The three victims were immediately transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they are receiving treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The quick police response is believed to have prevented an even deadlier outcome in one of the city’s most crowded transit hubs.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the details during a press conference shortly after the incident. She described Griffin as “behaving erratically, repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer,” and emphasized that officers followed protocol by giving multiple warnings before using deadly force. The attack caused temporary disruptions to weekend subway service as police secured the area, recovered the machete, and gathered evidence, including body camera footage.

Grand Central Terminal, known as the “crossroads of the world,” handles hundreds of thousands of passengers daily with its grand architecture and constant flow of commuters and tourists. Saturday’s events have left many shaken, with witnesses describing scenes of pure pandemonium. “People were pushing and yelling to get away. It happened so fast — one second he was shouting, the next he was swinging the machete,” said one eyewitness. The combination of the haunting declaration and the sudden slashing created an atmosphere of terror that many will not soon forget.

Anthony Griffin’s background is still being investigated. He had prior arrests, but authorities have not identified any terrorism connection. The case has reignited intense discussions about mental health crises in public spaces, subway safety protocols, and the difficult split-second decisions officers must make when confronting armed and erratic individuals in high-traffic environments.

For the three elderly victims and their families, the road to recovery will be long and painful. The 84-year-old man’s head and facial wounds, the 65-year-old’s skull fracture, and the 70-year-old woman’s shoulder injury will require extensive medical care and rehabilitation. In the hours after the attack, an outpouring of support flooded social media, with New Yorkers offering prayers, well-wishes, and calls for better protection for vulnerable riders.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for improved mental health outreach programs, stronger coordination between transit authorities and law enforcement, and enhanced security at major stations like Grand Central. Many residents worry that random attacks on seniors and everyday commuters are becoming too frequent, eroding confidence in the city’s public transportation system.

Eyewitness testimony has been crucial in reconstructing the timeline. Several commuters noted that the five-word cry “I am Lucifer!” created immediate fear even before the machete appeared. “It wasn’t just the words — it was the way he said it, like something out of a nightmare,” one witness shared. The platform descended into chaos as people fled in every direction, with officers arriving within moments to neutralize the threat.

As the full investigation proceeds, authorities will examine Griffin’s journey from Queens, any possible motive, and whether he had prior contact with mental health or criminal justice systems. In the meantime, increased police patrols have been deployed at Grand Central and other key stations to reassure anxious riders.

Saturday’s machete rampage at Grand Central Terminal, marked by the attacker’s chilling self-proclamation and the chaotic scenes described by those who were there, has left New York grappling with yet another blow to public safety. Through the voices of eyewitnesses, the public now has a clearer sense of the terror that unfolded in mere seconds — from the haunting declaration to the panic, the slashing, and the decisive police response.

While the attacker was stopped before more lives were lost, the three elderly victims now carry both physical scars and emotional trauma from the random assault. Their story, alongside the bravery of the responding officers, highlights the fragility of daily life in a bustling metropolis and the ongoing need to protect public spaces for all New Yorkers.