The family of Michelle Alysa Go, the 40-year-old woman who died in front of an NYC Subway train on Saturday, released a statement days after the incident. They called the incident a "senseless act of violence" and prayed that "she gets the justice that she deserves."
Go was standing at Times Square- 42nd Street station when she was "suddenly pushed" off the platform onto the path of an incoming train. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the incident was unprovoked, and the victim did not appear to have any interaction with the suspect.
"EMS responded and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene," he added.
The suspect, Simon Martial, fled the scene and later turned himself in, the authorities said. Martial was charged with second-degree murder. Officials noted that Martial was homeless, had a criminal background, and had mental health problems. Authorities had documented three emotionally disturbing encounters with him.
Witnesses said Go did not see who pushed her, as Martial was running with both hands in front of him. "But it was so fast, nobody realized what was going on before it was too late, "Maria Coste-Weber, a witness, said.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams said that the incident was "a senseless act of violence."
Message from the family
In a statement posted on Twitter, the family admitted that they are in a state of shock and are grieving the loss of Go. The family also echoes the city officials saying that the incident was a senseless act of violence. "We pray that she gets the justice she deserves," the family's statement said.
The family members also described Go as a beautiful, brilliant, kind, and intelligent woman.
"Michelle had a love of life, loved her family, and loved to meet and work with people. She made and kept up with countless friends from grade school to college to graduate school and at her workplaces," the statement said.
The family said that Go had just returned to New York after celebrating her birthday in the Maldives. Go is a senior manager for Deloitte Consulting and spends her spare time volunteering for the homeless of New York.
A decade of volunteering for the homeless
The death was also a shock for the New York Junior League, a 120-year-old women's volunteer organization where Go has volunteered for the past ten years. She helped prepare homeless men and women for job interviews, improve their resumes, and teach them financial literacy.
Go's Junior League partner remembers her as "vivacious" and had a "joy for life," evident to everyone who knew her. The group describes the incident as senseless and her death "a tremendous loss for all of us, the people of New York."
The organization also called for the New York City leaders to act on the mental health crisis in the city.
"We call upon the city's leadership to urgently address the lack of mental health and other supports for underserved communities," Dayna Barlow Cassidy of New York Junior League posted on Instagram.
New York nonprofit Asians Fighting Injustice, a group dedicated to fighting hate crimes in NYC, is organizing vigils for Go in San Francisco and New York City.
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