Transit Advocates Call for Subway Face-Covering Ban After Midtown Shooting

In the wake of the October 17 fatal E train platform shooting, transit advocacy groups led by Charlton D'Souza of Passengers United called on Monday October 19, 2026 for a ban on face coverings in the New York City subway. D'Souza argued the suspect's ability to flee unidentified behind a face mask made the crime easier and proposed requiring riders to unmask at OMNY tap readers when entering stations. The MTA did not endorse the proposal, instead expressing support for pending state legislation that would bar concealed firearms in subway cars and noting it was reviewing mandatory video footage from the incident. The agency said six subway killings have occurred in 2026 through that date, compared to four at the same point in 2025, despite a record number of gun arrests underground this year. Riders interviewed on the subway echoed broader fears about underground safety, citing open drug use and erratic behaviour on platforms. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that many repeat transit offenders cycle through the system; 214 of 734 people arrested for major transit crimes in 2026 had three or more arrests in the same year.