Former Bronx battle rapper shot dead by NYPD after machete attack at Grand Central Terminal

Anthony Griffin, a Bronx battle rapper known as Fox 5, was fatally shot by police after attacking elderly commuters with a machete at Grand Central Station.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 10:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from East Bay Times

Violent Transit Encounter Ends in Fatal Police Shooting

A chaotic scene unfolded at one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs on Saturday when law enforcement engaged an armed suspect on a subway platform. According to the New York City Police Department, officers confronted 44 year old Anthony Griffin after he reportedly began slashing at commuters inside Grand Central Terminal. The confrontation escalated rapidly when Griffin, armed with a machete, refused to comply with police commands, leading officers to discharge their service weapons. Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene, marking a violent conclusion to a morning that left several travelers injured.

Victims Targeted in Unprovoked Subway Platform Assault

The victims of the attack were identified as three elderly commuters who were caught off guard during the morning rush. Police reports indicate that Griffin utilized a machete to inflict various wounds on the unsuspecting travelers before officers could intervene. While the extent of the injuries varied among the three individuals, emergency medical services provided on-site stabilization before transporting the victims to local medical facilities. The unprovoked nature of the assault has intensified concerns regarding the safety of vulnerable populations within the city’s sprawling subterranean transit network.

The Artistic Background of the Grand Central Suspect

In the wake of the shooting, details have emerged regarding Griffin’s previous life as a prominent figure in the New York underground music scene. Known in the Bronx by the stage name "Fox 5," Griffin was once regarded as a legend in the world of battle rap and freestyle performance. Friends and former colleagues expressed disbelief at the news, struggling to reconcile the artistic "Fox 5" they knew with the man accused of a brutal subway slashing. This revelation has added a layer of complexity to the investigation, as authorities look into potential factors that led to his significant decline.