Dajuan Robinson, the fare-beater who was shot in the head with his own gun during a rush-hour incident on a Brooklyn train last week, may face criminal charges if he survives, according to the police. Currently in critical but stable condition at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Robinson is breathing through a tube, as confirmed by NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny during a press briefing on Thursday.
Robinson, 36, is expected to be charged with criminal possession of a weapon by the police if he recovers. The incident occurred on March 14 when Younece Obuad, a 32-year-old father of two, wrestled the pistol away from Robinson on an A train. The altercation, captured on video and confirmed by police, resulted in Robinson being shot four times – twice in the head, once in the chest, and once in the stomach.
Authorities are still searching for a woman, known only by her nickname “Unique,” who was with Obuad during the incident. She allegedly stabbed Robinson in the back during the altercation. Once identified, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office will determine whether she should face charges. Previously, a spokesperson for the DA’s office stated that Obuad was not facing charges as it appeared he acted in self-defense.
The confrontation between Robinson and Obuad escalated after Robinson accused them of being migrants. According to police, the woman said to Obuad, “He thinks we’re migrants,” just moments before the physical altercation ensued. As the two men grappled, she retrieved a sharp object from her bag and stabbed Robinson twice in the back, causing blood to seep through his shirt.
Enraged by the stabbing, Robinson confronted Obuad and the woman, threatening to have them arrested. He then retrieved a gun from his jacket and charged at them. The chaotic scene unfolded during the evening rush hour, with terrified commuters seeking cover as Robinson brandished the firearm. Obuad managed to wrestle the gun away from Robinson and opened fire on him as the train arrived at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, according to the police.
While the investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing, evidence of self-defense has thus far prevented the filing of any criminal charges against Obuad, as stated by Oren Yaniv, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn DA’s office in a previous statement.
