GOP candidate blames Letitia James for surge in subway violence after Midtown shooting

Saritha Komatireddy, the Republican contender for New York Attorney General, criticized Letitia James for what she called a permissive approach to subway crime after a fatal shooting at the Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street station. Komatireddy argued that under James, felony assaults in the transit system have nearly doubled, pointing to a 94% rise as evidence of policy failure. She pledged to establish a transit-crime strike force within the AG's office to pursue repeat offenders and restore safety.

Police indicated the shooting involved a dispute between the gunman and the victim, describing it as a targeted incident rather than random violence. James' office did not respond to requests for comment. Recent NYPD data show a slight overall increase in subway crimes, while citywide murders have fallen nearly 20% year-to-year.