Richard Williams, an 83-year-old retired Air Force pilot who survived five years battling prostate cancer, died March 17 from injuries sustained when he was allegedly pushed onto subway tracks by a four-time deported illegal immigrant with 15 prior criminal charges.

Attack at Manhattan Subway Station

The attack occurred at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street Station on March 10 when Bairon Posada-Hernandez, a 34-year-old Honduran national, allegedly shoved Williams and another man, John Pena, 30, onto the tracks. Pena managed to pull Williams back onto the platform moments before a train entered the station. Williams was rushed to a hospital where doctors discovered a brain bleed requiring emergency surgery. He never regained brain activity following the procedure and died seven days later.

Posada-Hernandez was arrested immediately after the attack and now faces murder charges. His public defender, Mitchell Schuman, declined to comment, stating they have not yet reviewed the indictment or discovery materials in the case.

Serial Criminal With Four Deportations

The Department of Homeland Security labeled Posada-Hernandez a serial criminal who first entered the United States on January 2, 2008. Federal authorities deported him four separate times, most recently in 2020. His criminal record spans 15 prior charges including simple assault, domestic violence, obstruction of police, possession of a weapon, drug possession, and aggravated assault. Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis condemned the situation, stating he should never have been able to walk American streets and harm innocent citizens.

Federal Clash Over Sanctuary Policies

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer for Posada-Hernandez and requested New York authorities not release him back onto the streets. The request highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and New York’s sanctuary policies that limit cooperation between local and federal authorities. Williams’ daughter, Debbie Williams, expressed her grief and anger over the preventable tragedy that took her father just six months after he finally defeated cancer. Federal authorities could not confirm when Posada-Hernandez reentered the country for a fifth time after his 2020 deportation.