Kills Attacker At Jamaica Station
An MTA police officer is continuing on his road to recovery after being knifed in the eye by a deranged attacker outside the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station last Wednesday morning, July 4, the authority announced.
P.O. John Barnett, 45, was attacked by Edgar Owens, 46, of the Bronx without warning near the station’s taxi stand on Sutphin Boulevard below the LIRR tracks at around 9:30 a.m., it was reported.
Despite being seriously wounded, the MTA noted, Barnett managed to withdraw his handgun and shot Owens after he refused to obey the officer’s warning to drop his weapon. Owens died a short time later from his gunshot wounds.
Barnett was rushed by paramedics to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and underwent surgery. Though he suffered “a devastating wound” to his left eye, the MTA stated, he is expected to make a recovery.
“He did exactly what we expect of all of our officers: In a split second, confronted with a violent individual who posed a threat to everyone around him, he took action without regard to his personal safety,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota. “We are all in awe of his bravery.”
According to law enforcement sources, Barnett-a 12-year veteran of the MTA Police Department and a Suffolk County resident-was talking with a cab driver at the station’s taxi stand when he was approached by Owens. Law enforcement sources said that Barnett observed him holding a knife in his hand.
Without any provocation, it was reported, Owens stabbed the officer in the left eye. Though he was severely injured, the officer stepped backward but took hold of his gun and ordered Owens to drop his weapon.
As the suspect continued to approach him, authorities said, Barnett fired four shots, which struck Owens in the jaw, chest and hip.
Additional MTA Police Officers responded to the scene along with the 103rd Precinct and EMS units. Owens was brought by paramedics to Jamaica Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Lhota noted that Owens had a prior criminal record which included confrontations with police officers. The suspect was reportedly arrested in 2006 after walking into the 26th Precinct stationhouse and punching an officer in the face.
The following year, he came to the 103rd Precinct stationhouse in Jamaica and was arrested after threatening to assault an officer.
The investigation is ongoing.
