The woman who was threatened by a would-be homeless mugger considers subway vigilante John Rote a “hero” but wishes she had tried to help without firing a gun at the station.
Speaking by phone to The Post on Friday, the 40-year-old woman, who did not want to be identified, recalled the “sheer terror” she felt during Tuesday’s ordeal on the city’s subway system that she believes was has become increasingly unsafe for users.
One reason for the poor underground conditions, he said, is the lack of serious punishments for repeat offenders, like the man who tried to rob her, who frequent subway stations.
The woman’s nightmare scenario unfolded when, while trying to return to her home in Queens, she encountered Matthew Roesch, a 49-year-old homeless man, who was allegedly harassing her for money after holding open the emergency door in the 49th Street station near the Times. Square, she remembered.
When she tried to pass, he blocked her path and demanded money, according to court documents.
“I told him, ‘I’m not going to give you money,’ and I kept walking. He followed me. He continued demanding money and told me: ‘if you don’t give me money, I’m going to take your purse.’ “I was trying to get away from him, but he was following me and getting very close,” the woman said.
Roesch, known to police for frequently carrying out the plan, allegedly made moves to snatch her purse when John Rote, 43, pulled out the firearm and allegedly fired several bullets across the subway while warning the would-be assailant that He would leave the woman alone. .
“Of course, I’m happy that this man tried to help me and that no one was hurt during this incident, but it’s scary to think that there are people carrying guns around town. “I understand why people do it, they see it as their only means of protection,” the woman said.
Matthew Roesch was following his victim and demanding money after letting her through an emergency exit, he told The Post.Steven Hirsch
Rote was seen on surveillance footage casually pulling the gun out of her purse and pointing it at the fight before yelling, “Get away from her!”
“It all happened in a matter of seconds. The homeless man didn’t flinch and continued saying, ‘give me money, give me money,’” the woman said.
That’s when Rote allegedly fired a second shot and continued yelling at Roesch to get away from his victim.
Roesch finally stopped, giving the woman the opportunity to flee.
John Rote allegedly yelled “Get away from her” before firing two shots through a subway station.BRIGITTE STELZER
As 40 other people at the station dispersed, she found safety inside an MTA maintenance room after a worker opened the door to check out the chaos.
He pushed a large metal cabinet against the door, preventing the gunman or would-be assailant from following them inside.
“I was terrified, I felt fear, panic. She was willing to do anything, to fight for my life in any way. The gun was pointed in my direction and that’s all I saw. It was a feeling of pure terror that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
The woman said she wishes Rote hadn’t used the gun when he tried to help her.
Roesch was arrested after police arrived within minutes and was charged with attempted robbery, but Rote was able to flee before he could be handcuffed.
Rote, who has no prior arrests, was arrested at his job in Manhattan the next day after an anonymous tipster recognized him from images leaked to police.
He allegedly admitted to the shooting and told police he abandoned the gun in the East River.
Roesch has a history of selling MetroCard bank cards and collecting money on the subway.NYPOST
He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment and menacing, the NYPD said.
Law enforcement sources said they do not believe Rote was targeting the homeless man, but rather was just trying to scare him.
Although the woman said she would like to thank Rote for intervening, she said she wishes he would leave the gun out.
Rote, who has no prior arrests, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment and menacing.
“In this case the man risked a lot to protect me, his safety and the safety of other people on the platform. Yeah, I think he’s a hero, but I don’t know, I’d probably consider him a bigger hero if he tried to help me without the gun. In my opinion, the weapon is a bit extreme. “It was a very dangerous situation, anything could have happened.”
The woman also harshly criticized the MTA and the NYPD, accusing them of doing little to prevent such chaos within the subway.
He said the incident was the second of two disturbing encounters with homeless people on the 49th Street platform in just one day; His morning began with another man openly masturbating on a bench without shame: “That set the tone for the day.”
“The MTA and the NYPD are not doing much to protect the public. But it is very dangerous. There are many incidents where weapons were involved and ended badly. “Honestly, I’m against people carrying guns around town,” he said.
The woman said the shooting was the second incident she witnessed at the Manhattan subway station involving homeless people in just one day. Paul Martinka
“The MTA increased fares, but nothing changed. Two incidents in one day. They let these people do what they want. This incident is entirely the fault of the MTA and the NYPD. “They need to increase the safety of cyclists.”
The woman added that harsher punishments should be imposed for repeat offenders, like Roesch, who has been repeatedly arrested for collecting and selling MetroCards on the subway.
“Homeless people are allowed to do whatever they want without punishment. They let that guy go. That sends the message that they can do whatever they want and get away with it,” he said.
“He will continue to do this over and over again. I rarely see patrols on the subway. They only start patrolling after something happens somewhere. “They should be there every day, making sure passengers are safe.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn