NYC subway rider randomly stabbed by smiling straphanger described as ‘quiet’ hard worker

The shocking incident of a subway rider being randomly stabbed by a smiling stranger has left the victim, Roberto Gaspar, fighting for his life. Gaspar, a 25-year-old Manhattan restaurant worker, was on his way home from a long shift when the unprovoked attack took place on a No. 7 train at the 111th Street station in Corona, Queens. Gaspar was simply looking at his phone when the assailant approached him from behind and stabbed him multiple times in the neck and back.

Gaspar was rushed to New York Presbyterian/Queens Hospital, where he is currently in serious condition and unable to speak. His friend, Tomas Calel, revealed that Gaspar is now on a ventilator in the ICU, hooked up to machines. Calel expressed his hope for Gaspar’s recovery and his ability to speak again, as the victim remains unaware of the identity of his attacker.

Originally from Guatemala, Gaspar has been in the US for seven or eight years, working tirelessly to support his family back home. He typically works long shifts at a Manhattan restaurant, doing everything from cooking to cleaning, and often takes on extra days to send money to his parents and sisters. Gaspar’s quiet and hardworking nature has left his friends and family devastated by the senseless attack.

The smiling suspect, captured in a surveillance image, remains at large as the NYPD continues its investigation. Calel, who is also a restaurant worker, expressed his fear of riding the train at night following the incident, as he now fears for his own safety.

As the search for the attacker continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Tips can be submitted to the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline, and the public is encouraged to help bring justice to Gaspar and his family in this difficult time.