By Gus Saltonstall
A man has been indicted for murder in connection with fatally pushing a 76-year-old Upper West Sider down a set of subway stairs, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday.
Rhamell Burke, 32, was indicted on second-degree murder charges this week for allegedly shoving Ross Falzone, 76, down a flight of stairs at a Chelsea subway station, according to the DA; Falzone died from the fall.
Falzone, a retired special education teacher who held a doctoral degree from Columbia University, lived on West 85th Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus, according to reports and police.
“Ross Falzone was walking to a Chelsea subway station when Rhamell Burke allegedly shoved him down the stairs, abruptly ending his life,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a news release. “This unprovoked and terrifying act of violence committed against an older New Yorker shook our city.”
On May 7, Falzone was walking toward the 18th Street 1 train station as Burke was walking on the same block behind him; the two had not interacted, according to court documents. Falzone reached the top of the stairs to the station, and as he briefly paused, Burke came up behind him and shoved him with two hands down the stairs, without ever saying a word, according to court documents.
Falzone was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later, police said.
Earlier that day, Burke had already been picked up by police officers for acting erratically and brandishing a stick. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, but was released shortly afterward. Five hours later, he shoved Falzone to his death, according to authorities.
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