Murder Charges for Man Who Shoved 83-Year-Old Veteran onto Subway Tracks | Crime Alert 6AM 04.01.26

Crime Alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Drew Nelson. A New York City man is indicted for murder after a random subway shove killed an 83-year-old veteran who hit his head and never regained consciousness. Prosecutors say Baron Hernandez pushed two men under the tracks at the Lexington Avenue 63rd Street station on March 8th. 83-year-old Richard Williams died nine days later from a brain bleed. The other man survived with less serious injuries. Authorities say the attack was random and unprovoked. Investigators say Hernandez first shoved a 30-year-old man from behind onto the tracks. Moments later, they say he walked up to Williams, who was walking with a cane, and pushed him as well. Williams was pulled from the tracks by bystanders before a train arrived. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and never woke up. Hernandez was arrested two days later. He's now been indicted on second-degree murder, attempted assault, and assault charges. His daughter is now speaking out on WNBC. The only reason I'm talking to anybody is because I just want the right thing to be done by this man. I want to draw attention. This is everybody's father. This is everybody's grandfather now. Debbie Williams describing a man who was still full of life. He's enjoying his best life living on Roosevelt Island, going to the city independently at 83 years old, doing whatever he wanted to do. Prosecutors say Williams had planned to go shopping that morning. He never made it. Family members say the loss has been overwhelming. Debbie tells the NBC outlet Hernandez is Satan. There's no words. How do you talk to the devil? I can't give you an answer that you can't. He's the devil. Prosecutors say the victim did not pose any threat and had no interaction with the suspect before the attack. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face decades in prison. More crime and justice news after this. A military review is now underway in Tennessee after US Army attack helicopters flew low over a protest and then maneuvered near Kid Rock's home, raising questions about whether the flight was routine, training or something more. Army officials say two AH-64 Apache helicopters tied to the 101st Airborne Division flew over a no-kings protest in downtown Nashville before making low-altitude passes near the home of the musician whose real name is Robert Richie. A spokesperson for the United States Army says all of the soldiers involved have been suspended. Leaders at Fort Campbell have launched what they now call an administrative review to determine whether the pilots followed proper rules after video showed one helicopter hovering just beyond the entertainer's pool and another sweeping past the property. Kid Rock can be seen saluting the soldiers in the cockpit. The Army says it is aware of the video circulating online that shows the helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence. An official said the review will assess the mission and verify compliance with flight regulations adding that action will be taken if any violations are found. At the center of the concern is how close the aircraft appeared to fly to the home, sometimes holding position before briefly moving off while a second helicopter crossed behind it, creating what looked like coordinated low-altitude maneuvering near the property. The Army says the helicopters were flying a planned training route through the Nashville area and that any connection to the protest happening in the same day was coincidental, but commanders also acknowledged they do not yet know whether the specific maneuvers near the home were intentional or incidental. A spokesperson says pilots routinely fly outside Fort Campbell, but adds they still cannot say if this flight path and behavior were deliberate or simply part of normal operations. The flight has drawn attention online, with some questioning whether military aircraft were used in a way that could appear personal or political. The singer posted a pro-military message on Instagram with the footage. Military officials stress that training flights over civilian areas are common and necessary, with pilots required to practice low-altitude navigation in real-world environments, but those flights are typically not conducted in such close proximity to private homes. A Colorado sheriff resigns after a grand jury indictment details mishandled human remains and alleged excessive force inside a small rural department. But it's not just Kostia County Sheriff Danny Sanchez stepping down. His under-sheriff, his son, and two deputies were also indicted. There are only seven officers in the department. The county has already moved to appoint an interim sheriff as the investigation continues. District Attorney Ann Kelly framed the case as a matter of public trust. In order to support these honorable and brave men and women, I cannot and will not ignore violations of the trust that a community should have in their police. No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force. This office is not afraid to defend that trust. The indictment lays out two separate cases. One centers on the discovery of human remains in a remote area near Wild Horse Mesa in 2024. According to the grand jury, a property owner found a skull, teeth, and other remains and reported it to the sheriff's office. Photos show a skull and dental work in the brush. Investigators say Sanchez and former Deputy Keith Schultz went to the scene. They only took the skull. They left the rest of the remains behind. They never returned to collect them. The indictment says the sheriff failed to notify the coroner, as required by law. It also says the remains were removed without permission and without proper authority. Testimony presented to the grand jury described what happened next. This skull was placed in a paper grocery bag. It was not labeled. It was not sealed. It had no chain of custody report. Investigators say the teeth that were seen in photos were never recovered. The report on the case was written months later and described as unusually short. The sheriff's office later told the reporting party the case was closed and no further work was done. Experts told the grand jury that proper procedure requires securing the scene, documenting all evidence, and coordinating with the coroner. They testified that removing remains without that process can destroy evidence and violate state law. The indictment states those failures caused harm to the investigation and, quote, would outrage normal family sensibilities. The second case involves a man in a mental health crisis. Prosecutors say a deputy used a taser on a person who was unarmed and not under arrest. That man suffered a broken rib. Under sheriff Cruz Soto is accused of failing to intervene. But Caleb Sanchez and deputy Roland Riley face assault charges tied to that incident. DA Kelly says the work is not over. We have been investigating for over a year now and we will continue with our efforts to investigate specifically to respond to and look into all reports from citizens of Coastia County about police misconduct. The sheriff and deputies turn themselves in and are expected to post bond. A string of armed robberies is targeting Pokemon card sellers in Illinois where a gun man uses online listening to lure victims and steal high value cards at gunpoint, at meetups, and just wait until you hear how much some of these cards are worth. Chicago police are searching for the suspect after four people was robbed on the southwest side. The most recent case happened Sunday morning. Investigators say the victims listed Pokemon cards for sale on Facebook Marketplace. A buyer reached out and arranged a meeting. Robbers were directed to a building in the 5200 block of South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago. Police say the suspect led them into the lobby and then pulled a gun. Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male between 20 and 30 years old. He stands between 5'6 and 5'10, weighs around 200 pounds. His beard and wears black framed glasses and dark clothing. The robberies are tied to at least four incidents between March 17 and March 29. Robberies have linked the same suspect to multiple victims in the Gage Park area. Trading car dealer Ronnie Holloway tells WGN the value of these cards has surged in recent years. That demand has made them a target. But it goes back to 2016 when they started that Pokemon Go. In 2019 when we had the pandemic, everyone started getting into it. That surge has pushed prices into the stratosphere, a range that definitely attracts criminals. You can get cards that go all the way up to $200,000, $150,000 based on the grading level and how rarity those cards are. Police say the suspect uses deception to get victims into a controlled space before the robbery. Sellers are always urged to meet in public places like police stations or banks. If a buyer refuses, collectors say that is a warning sign. The black market is where cards are stolen. And there also, to be clear about it, is that people will sell them to those who are not really familiar that it's a stolen card. This kind of crime has shown up in other cities. Recently in New York City, armed men stormed a Pokemon shop in Manhattan's meat packing district that happened in January. Police say three masked suspects entered the store on West 13th Street. They were armed with a gun and hammers. More than $100,000 of merchandise was taken while dozens of customers remained stuck inside. Back in Chicago, the suspect in these robberies remains on the run. Anyone with information is asked to contact Chicago Police Area 1 Detectives at 312-747-8380. For the latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert's hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Drew Nelson.