Police said the 44-year-old victim did not know the attacker, who fled the Brownsville station after the assault.
NEW YORK — A 44-year-old man was stabbed in the back as he walked on a staircase inside a Brooklyn subway station Wednesday night, police said.
The assault happened at about 9:15 p.m. July 8 inside the Sutter Avenue-Rutland Road station in Brownsville. Police said an unknown man approached the victim on the stairs, displayed a sharp instrument and stabbed him before fleeing the station.
Investigators described the attack as unprovoked. Police said the two men did not appear to know each other, and the attacker did not speak to the victim before the stabbing. Authorities have not released a possible motive.
Emergency crews took the wounded man to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition, police said. His name was not released.
The New York Police Department later released images of the man sought in the investigation. Police described him as having dark hair and a medium complexion. He was shown wearing a white T-shirt and jeans and carrying a backpack.
Police have not announced an arrest or released the suspect’s name. Authorities also have not said whether investigators recovered the weapon believed to have been used in the attack.
The stabbing occurred on a staircase used by passengers entering or leaving the elevated station. Police did not report any lasting interruption to subway service after the assault.
The investigation remained open Sunday, and police continued searching for the attacker. No additional information about the victim’s condition had been publicly released.
Author note: Last updated July 12, 2026.