Police say they nabbed two crooks who stole an iPhone from an 81-year-old man and pushed him onto the subway tracks at the Lorimer Street J train station on Feb. 17.
Cops cuffed Jaqua Sowells, 17, and Taheen Herkul, 15, both from a Manhattan Avenue in Williamsburg, on Thursday on charges of attempted murder, robbery and felony assault.
Moore Street resident Andrew Wang told cops that he was on the Brooklyn-bound platform at 11:30 am, when one teenager approached him and snatched his iPhone. Wang claims he chased after the crook, but the teen’s accomplice pushed him off the platform and onto the tracks, he said.
The thieves made off with the cell and emergency responders rescued the octogenarian and took him to Woodhull Hospital, where he received treatment for injuries to his leg, chest and arm.
Wang told our sister publication the New York Post that he “learned kung fu” when he was 10 years old, but “couldn’t remember how to do it” when the crook shoved him onto the tracks.
He feels like forgiving the teens — but he also said he wants his iPhone back.
“[The robbers] are young and have a lot of chances to do good,” Wang said. “They can still turn their lives around.”
Reach reporter Aaron Short at ashort@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2547.
