January 20, 2026 BROOKLYN, NYA 19-year-old’s run from the law ended in handcuffs Tuesday, but it’s what he shouted at reporters during his "perp walk" that has all of New York talking.
Andrew Pashinin, the teen accused of shoving a man onto the tracks at the busy Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station last month, was tracked down by the NYPD Warrant Squad at his mother’s home in Yonkers. But instead of keeping quiet, the attempted murder suspect decided to give the city his side of the story—blaming the victim for the terrifying encounter.
The Teen’s Shocking Defense: "He Pushed Me First"
As detectives led a shackled Pashinin out of the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station, the teen didn't shy away from the cameras. When asked why he allegedly threw a 33-year-old straphanger onto the roadbed, Pashinin claimed he was the one being bullied.
"He pushed me and said mean things to me before I arrived at the station," Pashinin told reporters. He went on to allege the victim was intoxicated and threatening, claiming the man told him, "I was going to beat [your] ass" and called him a "little kid."
The NYPD’s Version: A Cold-Blooded Setup
Despite the teen’s claims of self-defense, law enforcement sources are painting a much darker picture. Police believe Pashinin didn't just react—he initiated the violence.
According to investigators, the December 7 nightmare began around 11:35 a.m. Cops say Pashinin approached the victim from behind and sparked a verbal dispute. Things turned deadly when the teen allegedly pulled out a knife, forcing the older man to back away in fear.
But Pashinin wasn't done. Moments later, as the victim stood on the southbound D/N platform, authorities say the teen lunged, shoving the man directly onto the tracks before disappearing into the crowd.
Seconds from Tragedy
Like a scene from a horror movie, the victim was forced to scramble for his life. He managed to haul himself back onto the platform just seconds before a train pulled into the station. While he escaped with only minor physical injuries, the trauma of the near-death experience has lingered as the search for his attacker continued through the holidays.
