Woman accused of causing panic on Metro-North train with gun threat at Grand Central

A woman who allegedly set off panic among Metro-North riders at Grand Central Station Wednesday morning with a phony gun threat has been booked on charges of making a terroristic threat, law enforcement sources said.

The incident happened on board a Metro-North Railroad commuter train — which had departed from New Canaan, CT, about an hour earlier — as it pulled into the transit hub via Track 110 at about 8:22 a.m. on Sept. 16.

Law enforcement sources said the woman, identified as 33-year-old Hannah Santero of Queens, was among the commuters when she suddenly became disorderly amid an apparent emotional breakdown. 

Authorities said she allegedly made verbal threats to shoot the passengers, saying, in one passenger’s account, “This will be your last day on Earth.” During the incident, she also reached down into a bag in her possession.

That sparked mass panic among riders who, at that point, were in fear of their lives. Sources said one of the passengers pulled the emergency brakes, bringing the train to a halt inside the tunnel, about 100 feet from the platform.

The MTA says 60 passengers then forced open doors and walked onto the tracks, taking their lives into their own hands as they headed for the Grand Central platform.

“Upon learning passengers had exited the train, Metro-North Railroad de-energized the third rail and suspended train service to the Lower Level of Grand Central,” an MTA statement noted. “MTAPD officers responded to the scene and with train crew members escorted people who were on the tracks the remaining distance to the platform.”

After the disembarked passengers were off the tracks, Metro-North restored power to the line, and the train crew moved it to the platform. The remaining 650 commuters on board the train exited there without incident, according to the MTA.

MTA Police Department officers responded to the incident and took Santero into custody without further incident. No weapons or ammunition were found in her possession.

EMS brought Santero to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. She was later charged with making a terroristic threat and making a threat of mass harm, according to ABC7.

https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/woman-metro-north-train-grand-central-panic/