Story by Ethan
On September 10th, 2025, the arrest of Brandon Balfour, age 18, was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.. Brandon Balfour was charged with first-degree Assault, first-degree Robbery, second-degree Attempted Murder, and second-degree Assault. The arrest and charges against Brandon Balfour were a result of an investigation handled by NYPD Detective John WIlliams of the Manhattan Transit Crime Squad.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, at approximately 11 p.m. on August 6th, 2025, a mute 29-year-old woman was approached by Brandon Balfour when onboard a northbound 3 train in the Wall Street and Williams Street station. The victim was alone in the specific train car before Brandon Balfour entered the train and stood by her, making her feel uncomfortable and led her to try and distance herself. Allegedly the defendant then took out a 14-16 inch long knife and stabbed the victim in the arm and back. The two individuals got into a struggle where the victim had her hands cut up when trying to defend herself against Brandon Balfour. The defendant then allegedly took the victim’s cellphone and fled from the scene before the victim was found shortly after and taken to a local hospital for treatment. She required extensive surgery for various cuts and slashes on her skin in addition to a punctured diaphragm and a collapsed lung. Brandon Balfour was located and arrested on August 8th, 2025, at a shelter in Queens, New York, and officers were able to recover the victim’s cell phone as well as a face mask the defendant was seen wearing on the night of the alleged incident.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that the charges against Brandon Balfour are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
