A 59-year-old man was killed in a stabbing early Thursday morning aboard a Queens-bound J train as it approached the Woodhaven Boulevard station, throwing a grim shadow over the start of the workday for dozens of commuters. NYPD officers responded to calls from panicked passengers at approximately 7:30 a.m., just as rush hour reached its peak.

The victim, whose name has not yet been released pending family notification, was transported in critical condition to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police say the stabbing occurred as the train neared Woodhaven Boulevard, a major transit hub in the heart of Queens. Bloodstains and crime scene tape cordoned off the northbound platform through the late morning, as detectives canvassed the area and reviewed security footage.

Transit workers and riders described a chaotic scene, with the conductor halting the train and passengers quickly ushered onto the platform. “You don’t expect to see something like this on your way to work,” said Samantha Lin, a Forest Hills resident who was on the same train. “Everyone was shaken.”

Authorities confirmed that a person of interest was taken into custody at the scene. The NYPD has not released further details about the suspect or a possible motive, but officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. Additional police presence was visible at several J and Z line stations throughout the morning, and MTA staff provided shuttle service for affected riders.

The incident comes as subway safety remains a top concern for New Yorkers this autumn, with local leaders renewing calls for increased patrols and mental health outreach in the transit system as the city heads into the busy election season. Mayor Eric Adams is expected to address the incident at a press conference later today.

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