Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Jyrell Thomas has been indicted on murder and weapon possession charges for fatally stabbing 59-year-old Mesias Lojano on September 30 onboard a J train. Thomas allegedly produced a knife and randomly targeted Lojano, stabbing him multiple times as the train approached Woodhaven station. The defendant fled the train, was chased by good Samaritans and apprehended by police shortly after the incident.

District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant was indicted for taking the life of a hard-working father and grandfather who was simply trying to get home from work.  Commuters deserve to use our transit system without fear, and we will aggressively prosecute those who cause harm and mayhem on our subways. Our thoughts remain with Mesias Lojano’s family as we seek justice on his behalf.”

Thomas, 25, of the Bronx, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with murder in the second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinksy remanded the defendant and ordered him to return to court January 26, 2027. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the indictment and investigation, on September 30, at approximately 5 p.m., Jyrell Thomas boarded a Queens-bound J train at the Broadway Junction station in Brooklyn.

At approximately 5:15 p.m., as the subway approached the elevated platform at Woodhaven train station near the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue, Thomas screamed, allegedly produced a knife and repeatedly stabbed Mesias Lojano with whom he had no prior connection. The defendant’s knife broke in two pieces while stabbing Lojano, and the defendant then allegedly produced a second knife from his sleeve, chased the victim across the train car and continued stabbing him.

When the subway doors opened, Thomas ran and dropped his weapon. Fellow subway passengers chased after the defendant.  Responding NYPD officers apprehended Thomas two blocks from the subway station.

Police later recovered two kitchen knives — one broken knife left in the subway car and a second kitchen knife with blood on its blade allegedly dropped down the subway stairs by Thomas as he fled.

Lojano was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased with stab wounds to his chest, neck, lip and back.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Frank Lasala of the 102nd Detective Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Angel Semerdzhiev under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, Karen Ross and Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Chief Assistant District Attorney Shawn Clark.