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NYC subway shooting victim sister's plea: Lawmakers need to protect city

By FOX 5 NY Staff
Published  May 25, 2022 8:47am EDT
New York City
FOX 5 NY

Sister of subway shooting victim

Griselda Vile, the sister of Daniel Enriquez, talks about her brother, the latest victim of a deadly shooting on New York City's subway system.

NEW YORK - The sister of the man gunned down aboard a New York City subway while on his way to brunch believes lawmakers in Albany need to take action on gun violence. 

Speaking during FOX 5 NY morning program, ‘Good Day New York,’ Griselda Vile said her brother, Daniel Enriquez, 48, was beloved by family and friends. Police have accused Andrew Abdullah, 25, of Brooklyn, of shooting Enrique while they were riding a Q train from Brooklyn to Manhattan on Sunday.

"What's concerning me the most is the lack of a national movement to prevent gun violence," said an emotional Vile.

The shooting took place only days before the second-largest mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas.

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Subway shooting suspect arraigned

Andrew Abdullah was arraigned on murder and weapons charges on Wednesday in connection with the fatal shooting of Daniel Enriquez on a subway train. A judge ordered Abdullah held without bail.

"Why are we not having this national movement? It's been almost 10 years since Sandy Hook," said Vile.

The gunman in Sunday's shooting allegedly purchased the gun for $10. After the shooting, he handed the gun to a homeless man.

"He is not a person that should be in public. He is a danger to society," added Vile.

Last month, a man opened fire a crowded subway train in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, at the height of the morning rush hour.  Earlier this month, a gunman shot and killed people at a supermarket in Buffalo. 

Subway shooting suspect charged

Authorities charged Andrew Abdullah, 25, of Brooklyn, with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the fatal shooting of Daniel Enriquez, 48, on board a Q subway train that was crossing the Manhattan Bridge.

Vile pointed the finger at state lawmakers for not doing more in New York City.

"I want Albany to protect its city. I want them  to empower the NYPD to continue to serve and protect our city. I shouldn't feel unsafe in our nation, I shouldn't have to feel unsafe in my city to the point that I have to bear arms. I don't want to bear arms," said Vile.

"This horrific crime should never have happened," Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a news briefing Tuesday, calling Abdullah "a repeat offender who was given every leeway by the criminal justice system."

"I want them to change the dialogue of gun control. I think a lot of civilians are not understanding the conversation. . We're not saying gun control, we are saying that we want to prevent gun violence. It should be harder to get a gun than a driver's license," said Vile.

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