Grand Central Slashers Emotional Outburst at Court: ‘Mom, I Didn’t Know You Were Here

In a dramatic scene at his first court appearance, 28-year-old Jason Sargeant, accused of unprovoked knife attacks at New York’s Grand Central Terminal, cried out in surprise upon seeing his mother in the courtroom. The incident occurred during his arraignment on Christmas Day for the alleged assault of two individuals in what prosecutors described as an “unprovoked and incredibly serious” rampage on Christmas Eve.

Sargeant, a Brooklyn native, was visibly startled when he recognized his mother among the spectators. “Wait, mom, I didn’t know you were here! I didn’t know you were here!” he exclaimed, his voice rising in panic as he was being escorted out by court officers. His cries of “Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!” echoed through the courtroom as officers dragged him away, highlighting the emotional weight of the moment.

The accused has a history of criminal activity, with prior arrests including criminal mischief, fare beating, and assaulting a police officer. The attacks at Grand Central left one victim with a deep wrist cut requiring a tourniquet, and another with a neck slash. Both victims were part of an unprovoked assault where Sargeant allegedly screamed “F— these people!” before his violent actions, according to prosecutors.

Sargeant has been ordered held on $150,000 bail, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 30. The event has sparked discussions about public safety in major transit hubs, with New York City Mayor Adams mentioning that addressing random acts of violence will be a priority in upcoming policy discussions in Albany.