By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — The man accused of stabbing a D train passenger under Rockefeller Center while fellow straphangers watched in horror did not appear at a scheduled court hearing Wednesday.
Gerardo Sanchez, 39, is being held in Bellevue Hospital's prison ward, the Department of Corrections said. Sanchez's attorney, Edward Wilford, declined to comment on his client's mental state.
The Bronx resident has been indicted on charges of murder and possession of a weapon after he allegedly stabbed to death 36-year-old Booklynite Dwight Johnson. Sanchez was not released for the Thanksgiving eve court date.
The suspected killer's next appearance is Dec. 16 in Manhattan Supreme Court, at which point he is expected to be arraigned.
On Saturday, Sanchez is accused of clashed with Johnson over seats in the subway car. Sanchez then allegedly attacked Johnson as the train was heading uptown between the Rockefeller Center and Seventh Avenue stations.
A passenger pulled the emergency cord to stop the train. Police locked the doors to the car, which reportedly was full of passengers, leaving frightened witnesses trapped with Sanchez, according to several published reports.
Johnson died from a stab wound to the neck, according to autopsy information in the criminal complaint against Sanchez.
