A woman with a possible mental condition has been charged with murder for pushing a man in front of a moving subway train in New York, because she thought "it would be cool" to kill a Muslim, as reported by Yahoo News and other media outlets.
The victim, S.S., 46, was Hindu.
The woman, E.M., 31, was known by her family to require prescription medication, was difficult to manage, and the police had been called many times over the last five years to report her actions.
E.M. is currently being held without bail. She told police that she shoved S.S. – a man she had never met before – in front of the train because she hates Muslims.
Reporters were unable to ascertain the nature of E.M.'s mental condition. Though there are arrest records outlining emotional issues.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly did not divulge E.M.'s medication or psychiatric history. However, beginning in 2005, there are five reports of police being called to her home due to the actions of an emotionally disturbed person. During one visit from police, E.M. reportedly threw a radio at the officers.
Arrest records on E.M. start in 2003: Punching a man in the face and assaulting a stranger on the street.
In the latter incident, the victim, a retired official with the Fire Department, called the attack both violent and relentless.
Victim D.C. said that as he was sorting his recyclables in front of his home when C.M. walked up to him and punched him in the face. She began yelling, accusing him of having sex with her mother and stealing jewelry from her while she had been in high school.
The first punch, as recalled by D.C., was "such a shot. And I was surprised she hit so hard, because she was just a girl" however, as the attack progressed he "really believe(d) if she had a knife, she would have killed me."
Witnesses were able to identify E.M. as a woman seen pacing and mumbling on the subway platform prior to S.S.'s death. Later, a passerby called 911 after recognizing her as the suspect police were searching for.
After police arrested E.M. she confessed to killing S.S., as she hated all Muslims and Hindus because of the September 11 terrorist attacks. She told police that she had been actively "beating them up" since 9/11.
During her hearing E.M. had to be admonished by the judge as she sat in the court snickering and laughing too much. Her attorney, representing her in the arraignment only, said that she behaved the same way with him.
Though calls made to E.M.'s home by reporters were not answered, a former employee of the building commented, "It surprised me what she did. She never acted that way."
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