Man Smiles in Court on Murder Charge for Fatal Shoving of Retired Teacher, 76

A 32-year-old man accused of fatally shoving a 76-year-old retired teacher down a flight of stairs at a subway station appeared smiling before a judge Saturday on second-degree murder charges.

Rhamell Burke faces allegations that he pushed Ross Falzone from behind as the elderly man approached the 18th Street Station entrance. Prosecutors say there was no interaction between the two men before the attack.

According to prosecutors, Burke walked up behind Falzone and, with both hands, shoved him down the stairs as the senior citizen reached the top of the steps.

Police sources say Falzone was taken to Bellevue Hospital with a broken rib, a traumatic brain injury, and a fractured spine. The injuries were so severe that he was pronounced dead that same evening.

Burke was arrested Friday, one day after the alleged attack.

Earlier on the day of the incident, police had transported Burke to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation following a disturbance outside a precinct. He was discharged from the hospital after approximately one hour. Within hours of his release, Ross Falzone was killed.

Mayor Mamdani has directed New York City health and hospitals to conduct an immediate investigation and full internal review into Burke’s evaluation and discharge at Bellevue Hospital, as well as a broader review of the psychiatric process across all public hospitals. The mayor is also asking the State Department of Health to determine whether Bellevue followed existing protocols and to identify any gaps in the system.

In response, a hospital spokesperson said, “We welcome this review and we expect that it will find our care was appropriate.”

On Saturday, the judge determined that Burke is a flight risk due to four open cases against him, which include assault on an officer, burglary, and criminal mischief. He has been remanded and will remain in custody.