A man who was killed after being pushed onto a subway train has been identified, after the suspect’s brother revealed he had been released from a psychiatric hospital two weeks ago.
Jason Volz, 54, died after being pushed onto the tracks at the 125th Street station on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem.
Carlton McPherson, 24, is accused of pushing Volz just as a Route 4 train approached Monday around 7 p.m.
McPherson has mental health problems and a long criminal history dating back to the age of 16.
His brother, Daquan McPherson, has since confirmed that he was released from a psychiatric hospital just two weeks ago, despite his family begging the facility to keep him there.
Jason Volz, 54, was identified as the man killed when he was pushed onto the subway tracks at the 125th Street station on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem
Carlton McPherson, 24, allegedly pushed a Volz man onto the tracks as a 4 train approached Monday around 7 p.m.
McPherson was arrested for assault in October 2023 but was released on bail and is expected back in court on that charge in July
“The city has failed Carlton,” his older brother told the newspaper New York Post.
“The city is failing all mentally ill people. There is too much administrative hassle. He just got out of the hospital two weeks ago. We begged them to keep him, but they said he wasn’t a threat to themselves or others, so they couldn’t keep him and let him go.
‘They released him. In New York City, the mentally ill have two options: they go to jail or they do something that gets them in the papers.”
He added that his brother had made repeated calls to a suicide and crisis hotline over the past six weeks to no avail.
“Carlton suffers from a serious mental illness,” Daquan added. ‘He goes to places where he is incoherent. Carlton sat in a dark room without a TV, wearing a hood. That is not the behavior of a mentally healthy person.
“One time he jumped off a roof because he thought people were chasing him,” Daquan McPherson said. “I did my best to get help for Carlton. I have literally called 988 (crisis hotline) several times in the last six months. I literally begged them.”
McPherson is now charged with murder over Volz’s death. They add to a long criminal record for violent crimes.
Most recently, he was arrested for assault in October 2023, but was released on bail and is expected back in court on that charge in July.
McPherson’s brother revealed he has suffered from poor mental health for years and begged doctors to keep him in hospital before he was released two weeks ago.
McPherson now faces murder charges over Volz’s death, adding to a criminal record dating back to when he was 16
Concerned commuters line the 125th Street station after a fatal pushing incident occurred Monday evening
Volz’s uncle said he recently turned his life around after struggling with addiction
Daquan denied that his brother is a “career criminal” and said he was a troubled young man.
“Carlton did not choose the wrong path and was not a career criminal,” he said. “He grew up in a church surrounded by love. But unfortunately he was ill and didn’t get the help he needed in time.”
He also extended his “deepest condolences” to Volz’s family, saying the victim had recently turned his life around after struggling with addiction.
“You had a lunatic on the subway and it ended tragically for my cousin,” said the victim’s uncle, Eddie Volz. PIX11 newsadding that Volz was a caring person.
“As far as I knew him, his whole life, that would be his top quality. He always cared more about others than himself.”
Eyewitness to the tragedy Brendan Daniel described his horror as he saw the tragedy unfold.
“I felt like a pit in my stomach when I heard it, and I just felt really sad for the person it happened to,” he told the outlet.
McPherson was held without bail following an arraignment Tuesday evening.
The New York Post reported that he appeared disoriented and made unintelligible noises during the hearing.
He must appear in court again on Friday.
