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Killing of Michelle Go

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This article is about the woman who died in New York. For the actress, see Michelle Goh.
Death of Michelle Go
Undated photo of victim Michelle Go
LocationNew York City, U.S.
DateJanuary 15, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-01-15)
Attack type
Homicide
VictimMichelle Alyssa Go, aged 40
MotivePossibly anti-Asian racism
AccusedMartial Simon (deemed unfit to stand trial)
ChargesSecond-degree murder
Michelle Alyssa Go
Chinese高慧民[1]

Michelle Alyssa Go (December 29, 1981 – January 15, 2022) was a 40-year-old Asian-American woman who, according to police, was pushed into the path of an oncoming New York City subway train, which caused her death. The suspect is Martial Simon, who was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The incident occurred at the Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal station.[2][3]

Biography

Go was born to Justin and Marjorie Go on December 29, 1981, in Berkeley, California.[3] She grew up in Fremont, California, with her parents and her brother Jefferey.[4][5] Circa 1994, she attended American High School in Fremont, where she was a member of the Honor Society as well as a cheerleader. She graduated in 1998. She studied economics at University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with a degree in economics in 2002. She first worked at Ferguson Plumbing Supply in Pasadena, California, as a customer service and sales representative.[3]

In 2010, she obtained a Master of Business Administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. She worked at Barclays Capital, before joining financial firm Deloitte, where she worked in mergers and acquisitions.[3]

Go was known for her volunteer work. She had worked with the New York Junior League (NYJL) for over a decade, helping many low-income New Yorkers. The NYJL released a statement after her death.[6]

Death

On January 15, 2022, Go left her apartment on the Upper West Side of New York City and was waiting for an R train at Times Square-42nd Street station.[7][8] According to police, Go was pushed from behind onto the tracks into the path of the oncoming R train at about 9:30am. A 61-year-old homeless man named Martial Simon pushed her because she was Chinese. Go was pronounced dead at the scene.[9][10] Simon fled the scene but later surrendered and admitted guilt.[11]

Legal proceedings

Simon was convicted of attempted robbery in 1999 and 2019 and had a warrant out for violating his parole.[11] Shortly before the incident, he had allegedly been harassing other commuters. Another woman later told investigators that she had also been approached by Simon and that she felt threatened by him, so she walked away from him. Simon turned himself in to police shortly after the incident, and has been charged with second-degree murder.[12]

According to the police, Simon has a history of mental illness. Attorney Mitchell Schuman of NYC Defenders said that, instead of understanding the complex issue of a city with "so many unhoused black people with unaddressed mental illness", it would be a shame if "Mr. Simon was sacrificed at the altar of vengeful public opinion."[11] On April 19, 2022, Simon was deemed unfit to stand trial and indefinitely committed to a locked psychiatric facility.[13]

Reception and concern

Go's death received attention due to its unprovoked malice. The media and investigators speculated about whether she was targeted because she was Chinese American. Vigils, organized in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, were attended by hundreds of mourners. The case has inflamed concerns over the homelessness and mental illness crises and elevated fears of soaring rates of violent hate crime, with residents calling for better security and social policies.[14][15][16][9]

Following Go's death, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced in February 2022 that it would install platform screen doors at three stations as part of a pilot program. The stations included the 7 and <7>​ trains' platform at Times Square, as well as the E platform at Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport and at Third Avenue.[17][18] Even before Go's death, there had been calls for the MTA to install platform screen doors at several stations, but the MTA had not done so. The pilot program at Times Square does not include the platform where Go was killed.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rong, Xiaoqing (January 20, 2022). "华裔命丧纽约地铁背后的种族迷思". The New York Times (in Chinese).
  2. ^ Funk, Luke (January 19, 2022). "Michelle Go Case: Homeless man charged in Times Square subway killing". FOX 5 NY. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Sanchez, Ray. "Times Square subway victim Michelle Alyssa Go remembered as a 'compassionate soul'". CNN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Ardrey, Taylor. "The family of the 40-year-old woman who was pushed in front of NYC subway train says they're 'in a state of shock'". Insider. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "Woman killed after being pushed onto NYC subway tracks grew up in Fremont". The Mercury News. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Sanchez, Ray; Moshtaghian, Artemis. "Times Square subway victim Michelle Alyssa Go remembered as a 'compassionate soul'". CNN. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Michelle Alyssa Go Shoved Onto Subway Tracks, Killed In Times Square". Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Family of NYC subway victim shoved to death in front of a train speak out". The Independent. January 18, 2022. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Woman Pushed Onto Subway Tracks 'Never Saw' Her Attacker". The New York Times. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  10. ^ Lonas, Lexi (January 19, 2022). "Judge orders psychiatric evaluation for suspect in fatal New York subway attack". The Hill. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Novini, Rana. "DA: Man in Woman's Deadly Times Square Subway Shove Used Both Hands to Kill Her". NBC New York. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  12. ^ "Suspect and victim in deadly Times Square subway attack identified". The Independent. January 16, 2022. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Man Charged in Fatal Subway Push Deemed Unfit for Trial". The New York Times. April 19, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "For many, Michelle Go's NYC subway death highlights failures in public safety for women". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "After Bay Area native Michelle Go was pushed to her death, NYC mayor says even he doesn't feel safe on subway system". The Mercury News. Associated Press. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "Mourners attend vigils in S.F., NYC for Michelle Go, Bay Area native and subway attack victim". The Mercury News. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Gold, Michael (February 23, 2022). "Subway Will Test Platform Doors at 3 Stations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  18. ^ Brosnan, Erica (February 23, 2022). "MTA: Platform barrier pilot program to launch in three stations". Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
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