Subway 'pusher' accused of shoving victim to his death in front of a moving train is 24-year-old with history of mental illness and arrests beginning when he was just 16

The subway 'pusher' accused of shoving a victim to their death in front of a train on Monday night has been identified. 

Carlton McPherson, 24, allegedly shoved a 45-year-old man onto the tracks at the 125th Street station at Lexington Avenue in East Harlem as a 4 train approached around 7pm. 

According to authorities, the attack was unprovoked and the victim has not yet been identified. 

McPherson has a lengthy criminal history and was arrested at the age of 16. He also has a history of mental illness. 

He was arrested in October 2023 for assault but was freed on bond and is expected back in court on that charge in July, sources told the New York Post. 

Carlton McPherson, 24, allegedly shoved a 45-year-old man onto the tracks at the 125th Street station at Lexington Avenue in East Harlem as a 4 train approached around 7pm Monday 

According to authorities, the attack was unprovoked and the 45-year-old victim has not yet been identified

The victim was pushed on the uptown platform in front of a train that was unable to stop, according to a police spokeswoman. 

Number 5 trains in both directions were severely delayed following the attack, according to the MTA. Normal service to the station resumed by 9pm.

A large number of officers were present at the scene along with a number of shocked New Yorkers standing on the platform as word spread about a man underneath the train. 

'I felt like a pit in my stomach when I heard it, and just felt really sad for the person that it happened to,' Brendan Daniel told Pix 11. 

The horrifying incident unfolded hours after NYPD Transit leaders made a public safety announcement about the 'continued commitment' they have made 'toward public safety' in the community. 

McPherson has a lengthy criminal history and was arrested at the age of 16. He also has a history of mental illness. He is seen smirking as he walked out of the 25 Precinct in Manhattan on Tuesday 

Concerned commuters stand in the 125th Street station after a fatal shoving incident occurred Monday evening

The Chief of Transit, Mike Kemper, referred to New York Governor Kathy Hochul's recent announcement about the deployment of National Guard troops, as well as State Police officers into the NYC subway system. 

'The results of these investments over the last couple months have been encouraging,' Kemper said. 

He added that 'overall crime' in NYC subway's during the month of February was down, but he did not give specific numbers. 

'And so far, in the month of March, that downward trend continues,' Kemper said, adding that overall crime in the subways is down 15.5 percent for the month, compared to last year. 

Just days after Hochul's announcement, a fight on the A train ended in a shooting, leaving many New Yorkers under the impression that the massive transportation system is next-to-impossible to police. 

McPherson was arrested in October 2023 for assault but was freed on bond and is expected back in court on that charge in July

A large number of officers were present at the scene along with a number of shocked New Yorkers standing on the platform as word spread about a man underneath the tracks

The shooting occurred on a northbound A train in Brooklyn shortly after 4.45 pm on March 14 when a verbal dispute between two strangers escalated into a fight. 

A 36-year-old man who was shot, who has not been named, accused the other man of being a 'migrant beating up cops' in furious scenes while other passengers scrambled to get away.

He was then stabbed and shot in the head with his own handgun by the other man, Younece Obuad, 32, after it was wrestled away from him in the melee on the train. 

Obuad was arrested and was not charged as prosecutors found he acted in self-defense.