A 39-year-old woman was stabbed on a subway train at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue Monday, and authorities believe a 31-year-old homeless woman attacked her at random, according to a law enforcement official.
The victim, Heather Burke, wrote on her Facebook page, "She stabbed with no provocation whatsoever. I'm lucky to be alive."
Police say the suspect also punched a second woman who tried to help Burke.
Witnesses told police the suspect lunged at Burke with a knife for no apparent reason on the northbound 6 as it pulled into the Lexington Avenue station around 10 a.m.
Passengers tried to restrain the suspect but she broke free and lunged at Burke again, stabbing her in the stomach and shoulder as Burke tried to get off the train, witnesses told police.
A law enforcement official says Burke ran into Bloomingdale's for help. A store spokeswoman told NBC 4 New York employees administered first aid and called an ambulance.
She was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She said on her Facebook page she will "also have to go through hepatitis treatment protocol and AIDS treatment protocol" as a precaution.
The law enforcement official tells NBC 4 New York that the stabbing appeared to be random. Riders were able to hold the suspect in the station until police arrived, and she was taken into custody.
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Burke wrote, "I certainly don't know if I will ever be OK with riding the subway again."
A knife with a blade 3-4 inches long was recovered.
Charles Williams, who was on his coffee break and ran into the station when he heard cries for help, was among the bystanders who held the woman until police arrived.
"I just acted and tried to save some people's lives. It could've been my sister or my niece, could've been somebody in my family or your family," Williams said of the woman who was stabbed. "Somebody gotta step up and try to prevent things from happening. I just did what I had to do."
