On a Sunday morning in May, Daniel Enriquez, a 48-year-old man of Mexican American descent, was riding a northbound Q train, making his way to brunch in Manhattan. It was a journey he had been hesitant to make by subway since the pandemic began, but on this particular day, May 22, 2022, he chose the train to avoid surge pricing on a ride-sharing app.
As the train crossed the Manhattan Bridge, his life was abruptly and senselessly cut short.
In the same subway car, a man identified as 25-year-old Andrew Abdullah was seen pacing back and forth, muttering to himself. Without any provocation or interaction, Abdullah allegedly drew a handgun and fired a single shot, striking Enriquez in the chest. The sudden act of violence stunned the other passengers, who sought cover as the train continued its journey toward the Canal Street station. Abdullah reportedly told the frightened onlookers to put their cell phones away before fleeing the train as soon as it stopped. Fellow passengers and first responders rushed to aid Enriquez, who was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The seemingly random killing sparked a citywide manhunt for the gunman. Two days later, Andrew Abdullah was taken into custody. His arrest was not without some drama, as his legal representatives stated they were in the process of negotiating his surrender when he was apprehended by law enforcement. Abdullah, who has a history of prior arrests including charges of assault, robbery, and attempted murder, was subsequently indicted by a grand jury.
Abdullah was charged with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bail. The family of Daniel Enriquez, a beloved employee at Goldman Sachs, mourned the loss of a man they described as a pacifist who deplored violence. His death added to the growing concerns about safety on the New York City subway system and the broader issue of gun violence in the city.
