By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-01 17:09:28 | Updated at 2025-01-06 12:39:19
4 days ago
The father of the Brooklyn thug charged with shoving a straphanger into an incoming 1 train Tuesday says his son was fine as recently as three weeks ago — but then began “acting weird.”
“Lately he’s been going through something, some mental issue,” Shamel Hawkins, 40, told The Post Wednesday as his son, Kamel Hawkins, was ordered held without bail at his arraignment on attempted murder charges in Manhattan Criminal Court.
“We think somebody put something in his weed,” the elder Hawkins said. “About three weeks ago he was all right and then he started acting weird. We wanted to get him help but he returned.”
Hawkins lived in the Whitman Houses public housing complex with his father and brother.
Kamel Hawkins, 23, was nabbed near Columbus Circle on Tuesday, just hours after police said he shoved a straphanger onto Manhattan subway tracks in a horrifying random attack.
The 45-year-old victim is seen on disturbing video plunging into the path of an incoming 1 train at the 18th Street station — but miraculously survived with just head injuries.
A criminal complaint filed in the case early Wednesday said the unidentified victim suffered four broken ribs, a fractured skull and a ruptured spleen.
Law enforcement sources said the man was fortunate to fall into the “trench” on the tracks beneath the train during the 1:30 p.m. attack.
Meanwhile, police charged Hawkins with attempted murder and assault.
Law enforcement sources said the accused subway shover has at least three prior busts, including an assault on an NYPD cop in Queens in June 2019, when he allegedly body-slammed the officer and left him with back injuries.
“Anyone who attacks a cop in full uniform is capable of doing far worse to defenseless civilians,” NYPD Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry told The Post on Tuesday. “Every time the justice system drops the ball on an assault on a police officer, it puts every New Yorker in danger.”
Hawkins also has an open assault, harassment and weapons possession case in Brooklyn from October and has an earlier bust in 2020, sources said.
