The 83-year-old veteran who was shoved onto New York City’s subway tracks earlier this month by a violent criminal, an illegal migrant with a lengthy rap sheet, has died, and the suspect is now facing a murder charge.
The alleged attacker, Bairon Posada-Herandez, 34, a Honduran illegal immigrant and four-time deportee, is reportedly homeless and a “serial criminal” with 15 prior charges, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Air Force veteran, Richard Williams, 83, of Manhattan, died March 17. DHS confirmed his death on March 26, Fox News Digital reported, and the medical examiner has since ruled his death a homicide.
DHS also shared news of Williams’ death on social media and details of Posada-Herandez’s disturbing criminal history, adding: “We are calling on sanctuary politicians in New York to honor ICE’s detainer and NOT release this monster back into our communities.”
FOUR-TIME DEPORTED CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIEN KILLS 83-YEAR-OLD AIR FORCE VETERAN.
Bairon Posada-Herandez first entered the country on January 2, 2008, and has been deported four different times, most recently in 2020. He entered illegally a fifth time at an unknown date and… pic.twitter.com/0hSwpeX34d
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 27, 2026
Williams sustained serious injuries and underwent surgery for a brain bleed a few days after the March 8 attack, according to previous news reports. He had no brain activity after the procedure, doctors said, and was pronounced brain dead.
Meet Bairon Posada-Herandez, an illegal alien with a LONG criminal history who has been deported 4 TIMES.
He has just been arrested after he reportedly shoved an 83-year-old Veteran and another individual onto the NYC subway tracks.
THIS is who Democrats protect in their… pic.twitter.com/IshpWDIBhq
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 13, 2026
Posada-Herandez was initially charged with attempted murder, assault and other charges following his arrest by the New York Police Department.
Described by The Associated Press as a “34-year-old Brooklyn resident,” Posada-Herandez was indicted on upgraded charges of second-degree murder following Williams’ death, and is set to be arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, March 30, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said.
Posada-Herandez fled on foot following what witnesses have described as an unprovoked attack. He allegedly pushed two men waiting on the subway onto the tracks around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 8 at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station on the city’s Upper East Side.
Police located and arrested Posada-Hernandez on Tuesday, March 10—the same day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer on him.
Posada-Hernandez’s criminal history includes 15 prior charges for various offenses, including aggravated assault, simple assault, domestic violence, obstruction of police, possession of a weapon and drug possession.
Posada-Hernandez has been deported four times since first entering the country illegally in 2008, DHS said. The last time was in July 2020.
He entered the country illegally a fifth time at an unknown date and location and made his way back to New York City.
Hernandez “should never have been able to walk our streets and harm innocent Americans,” said DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
According to witnesses and police reports, Williams had been standing on the subway platform when a man he didn’t know shoved him from behind onto the tracks.
Williams’ family told various news outlets that he was not likely to pull through in the days after the attack. Williams, a retired Air Force pilot, had been married to his wife for 55 years. He has three daughters and two granddaughters.
His daughter, Debbie Williams, said her father had recently won a five-year battle with prostate cancer. He also “loved the streets of New York” and traveling in the transit system.
“My father is a phenomenal human being and nobody deserves being pushed like that,” Williams previously told the New York Post.
She also had some choice words for his accused killer, telling The Post she wants him to go to the “Venezuela prison, the worst place he could go to.”
“I want him to suffer for the rest of his life,” Williams said. “Prison justice would be appropriate.”
The attack took the two victims and bystanders by surprise. The same assailant initially pushed a 30-year-old man onto the tracks before targeting Williams and running out of the subway. John Rodriguez, of Queens, told ABC7 News he was on his way to work when he says the man shoved him — completely unprovoked.
Footage appears to show the suspect pacing on the platform moments after he allegedly shoved the 30-year-old man first. Then, he can be seen approaching the elderly Williams from behind and pushing him onto the tracks.
The first victim recorded some of the incident after being shoved onto the tracks. Despite his own injuries, he tried to help Williams back onto the platform before a train rolled into the station and emergency responders arrived.
Posada-Hernandez was arrested in Brooklyn at a homeless shelter after police said they received a tip, ABC7 News reported. That outlet said he has a prior conviction in New Jersey for entering the country illegally, and a conviction in Texas for re-entering illegally.
