Homeless man’s subway stab spree triggered by stolen blanket: Prosecutors

A stateless antheral accused of the brutal stabbings of 2 victims successful abstracted subway attacks — including an off-duty MTA subway cleaner — spiraled retired of power aft the archetypal unfortunate stole his broad and utilized it to slumber connected the train, prosecutors said Thursday.

The stabbing spree kicked disconnected astir 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1, erstwhile Jamar Banks, 52, was sleeping connected an uptown No. 2 train, prosecutors said.

While Banks slept, a 31-year-old antheral swiped his suitcase, brought it to different car and pulled retired a broad to slumber with. As the bid came to a halt astatine the 14th St. subway presumption successful the West Village, Banks woke up and went looking for his suitcase, prosecutors said.

When Banks spotted the antheral snoozing with Banks’ blanket, helium confronted him, tore it away, and yelled astatine him portion threatening him with a knife. As the antheral walked distant from the fight, Banks stabbed him erstwhile successful the back, slicing the victim’s lung with a 5-centimeter-deep laceration, according to prosecutors.

The unfortunate staggered to an exigency fastener and pressed it earlier helium collapsed connected the subway car floor. He was past rushed to Bellevue Hospital, wherever helium is inactive being treated for a ruptured lung and interior bleeding.

After the brutal stabbing, Banks fled the presumption but struck again the pursuing greeting astir 6:10 a.m. astatine the Pelham Parkway subway presumption successful the Bronx, wherever helium got into an altercation with a 47-year-old transit worker, authorities said.

The Pelham Parkway subway presumption successful the Bronx. (Jefferson Siegel/New York Daily News)

During the fight, Banks stabbed the antheral successful the backmost and armpit. The unfortunate was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center successful unchangeable condition.

Cops caught up to Banks connected Jan. 5 — 2 days aft they identified him arsenic a suspect successful the stabbings. He has more than 80 anterior arrests connected his record, the Daily News antecedently reported.

Banks was indicted Thursday and charged with battle and attempted assault. His past code is simply a stateless structure successful East New York, Brooklyn.