A man who died after being pushed onto subway tracks has been identified, as the suspect’s brother revealed he was released from a psychiatric hospital two weeks ago.
Jason Volz, 54, died after being pushed onto the tracks at the 125th Street station on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem.
Carlton McPherson, 24, is accused of pushing Volz just as a 4 train was approaching around 7 p.m. Monday.
McPherson has mental health issues, as well as a long criminal history dating back to age 16.
His brother, Daquan McPherson, has since confirmed that he was released from a psychiatric hospital just two weeks ago, despite his family pleading with the facility to keep him.
Jason Volz, 54, was identified as the man who died when he was pushed onto the subway tracks at the 125th Street station at Lexington Avenue in East Harlem.
Carlton McPherson, 24, allegedly pushed a Volz man onto the tracks as a 4 train approached around 7 p.m. Monday.
McPherson was arrested in October 2023 for assault, but was released on bail and is expected to return to court on that charge in July.
“The city failed Carlton,” his older brother told the New York Post.
‘The city is failing all the mentally ill. There is too much bureaucracy. He just left the hospital two weeks ago. We begged them to keep him, but they said he was no threat to himself or others, so they couldn’t keep him and let him go.
‘They released him. In New York City, mentally ill people have two options: either go to jail or do something that will get them in the newspaper.’
He added that his brother had made repeated calls to a crisis and suicide hotline over the past six weeks, without success.
“Carlton suffers from a serious mental illness,” Daquan added. ‘He gets to these places where he is incoherent. Carlton sat in a dark room, with no television and his hood up. That is not the behavior of a mentally healthy person.
“He once jumped off a roof because he thought people were chasing him,” Daquan McPherson said. ‘I did everything I could to get help for Carlton. I literally called 988 (crisis hotline) several times in the last six months. I literally begged them.’
McPherson now faces murder charges in Volz’s death. They add to a long history of violent crimes.
Most recently, he was arrested in October 2023 for assault, but was released on bail and is expected to return to court on that charge in July.
McPherson’s brother revealed he has suffered mental health problems for years and pleaded with doctors to keep him in hospital before being released two weeks ago.
McPherson now faces murder charges in Volz’s death, adding to a record dating back to when he was 16 years old.
Worried commuters are at the 125th Street Station after a fatal pushing incident Monday night.
Volz’s uncle said he had recently turned his life around after battling addiction.
Daquan denied that his brother was a “career criminal” and said he was a troubled young man.
“Carlton did not choose the wrong path nor was he a career criminal,” he said. ‘He grew up in a church surrounded by love. But, unfortunately, he was sick and did not receive the help he needed in time.’
He also offered his “deepest condolences” to Volz’s family, who said the victim had recently turned his life around after battling addiction.
“You had a crazy guy on the subway and it all ended tragically for my nephew,” said the victim’s uncle, Eddie Volz. PIX11 Newsand added that Volz was a loving person.
‘As far as I knew him, his whole life, that would be his main quality. He always cared more about others than himself.
Brendan Daniel, an eyewitness to the tragedy, described his horror as he watched it unfold.
“I felt a knot in my stomach when I heard it and I felt very sad for the person it happened to,” she told the outlet.
McPherson was held without bail following an arraignment Tuesday night.
The New York Post reported that he appeared disoriented during the hearing and made unintelligible noises.
He is due back in court on Friday.