MANHATTAN — A straphanger survived a brush with death when a man picked a fight with him on an uptown 4 train and then tried to shoot him only to have the gun fail, police said.
The 50-year-old straphanger, whose name was not released, had just sat down on the subway car about 3 a.m. on July 13 when he spotted the suspect sprawled over several seats, an NYPD spokesman said.
The suspect asked the straphanger what he was looking at and started haranguing him, according to police.
The argument continued when the two got off at 51st Street and Lexington Avenue, and then the suspect drew his gun and tried to shoot the other man, the NYPD said.
The suspect's gun failed, so he bolted, police said.
The would-be shooter was last seen wearing a gray hoodie with black sleeves and pockets, gray sweatpants with a black patch on each thigh and a Yankees cap, according to photos released by the NYPD.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).