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1-This thread will be 40-50 tweets long so please be patient. This thread is not to fish for kind words, it's to both remind my long-time followers & introduce my new followers that life can change in a flash. This incident & the aftermath happened to me. It can happen to you.
2-Today, February 12, 2021 marks the 10 year anniversary of my battle with Maksim Gelman, the #NYPD, #NYC, & the "Justice" System.
3-Similar to Clubber Lang, since they won't come to me, I'll bring my case to the "people" #NYPD
4-It was 10 years ago today that Maksim Gelman went on a killing spree. He killed 4 people & injured several others. #NYPD
5-It started when he murdered his stepfather Aleksandr Kuznetsov in their home, stabbing him upwards of 55 times. He actually broke the first weapon during the attack and picked up the infamous knife to finish the job.
6-He then turned his attention to Yelena Bulchenko, Yelena wasn't home so he cowardly murdered her mother Anna. #NYPD
7-Upon finding her mother murdered, Yelena encountered Gelman & he murdered her as well, almost decapitating her in front of her house.
8-While on the run, he hit & killed pedestrian Stephen Tanenbaum with a carjacked vehicle.
9-Gelman was later seen at the 96th St. Subway Station where he reportedly confronted a woman reading an article in the newspaper about him but thankfully left her unharmed.
10-While on a downtown subway, Gelman exits that train & enters an uptown #3 subway.
11-Moments later, I board an uptown #3 train at Penn Station with others, including #NYPD Officers Terrence Howell & Tamara Taylor.
12-Here's where the actual truth & the #NYPD version of the incident don't really match.
Here we go!
Here we go!
13-Upon boarding the train, #NYPD Officers Howell & Taylor go directly to the engineers booth.
14-Shortly thereafter an individual bangs on the engineers door claiming to be a cop & demanding entrance. The person is below.
15-The man behind the door (pictured below) denies entry to Gelman & asks him to identify himself. "Who are you?" He asks.
16-Gelman says "I'm the Police" to ACTUAL #NYPD Officer Howell who answers "you're not the Police".
With that Gelman walks away.
With that Gelman walks away.
17-NYPD Officer Howell is well aware Gelman isn't a cop since he can clearly see the man EVERY #NYPD cop is looking for through a window in the door.
18-Moments later, a man who recognizes Gelman bangs on the door to get the #NYPD Officers to exit. His request was subsequently DENIED.
19-Seconds later, Gelman approaches me, takes out the knife (pictured) & says "you're gonna die, you're gonna die!"
20-He proceeds to stab me in the face under my left eye. Realizing I'm in a fight, I attempt a single-leg takedown.
21-Despite awful technique, I was able to take him down.
Unfortunately he had free reign to unleash carnage on my head.
Unfortunately he had free reign to unleash carnage on my head.
22-My knees took some damage too.
My weight + Gelman's weight + a hard subway floor equals this.
Again, MY knees, NOT #NYPD Officer Howell's
My weight + Gelman's weight + a hard subway floor equals this.
Again, MY knees, NOT #NYPD Officer Howell's
23-Although I had dominant position on top of Gelman, he still had the knife.
I tried to grab his wrist & missed.
My thumb was slashed to the tendon.
Again I tried to gain control of his wrist.
Again I missed.
This time, he sliced me in my left tricep.
I tried to grab his wrist & missed.
My thumb was slashed to the tendon.
Again I tried to gain control of his wrist.
Again I missed.
This time, he sliced me in my left tricep.
24-FINALLY on my 3rd attempt to grab his wrist, I succeeded & slammed his arm down.
He dropped the knife (pictured)
He dropped the knife (pictured)
25-At that point, and ONLY at the point did I get a tap on the back & I heard Howell say "you can get up now, we got em"
26-Bleeding profusely, I was then made to sit in the tunnel between 34th & 42nd streets for approximately 20-25 minutes.
I was made to wait until the #NYPD could confirm all their officers were out of danger.
Although my life was literally pouring out of me, I didn't matter.
I was made to wait until the #NYPD could confirm all their officers were out of danger.
Although my life was literally pouring out of me, I didn't matter.
27-Once the #NYPD confirmed their cops were safe, we were able to move the train to 42nd St. where the medics were waiting...even though for the prior 20-25 minutes the #NYPD kept telling me the paramedics were on their way while we were in the tunnel.
28-When the paramedics transferred me to the stretcher, I passed out with my eyes open. It was at this time I heard the #NYPD Officers talking about me. I heard Officer Tamara Taylor call me "likely".
I later learned that being termed "likely" is "copspeak" for "likely to die".
I later learned that being termed "likely" is "copspeak" for "likely to die".
29-Upon arrival at Bellevue hospital, an #NYPD officer showed me a mugshot & asked "is this the guy who did this to you?"
This was the very same mugshot every member of the #NYPD was shown...INCLUDING Officers Terrence Howell & Tamara Taylor.
This was the very same mugshot every member of the #NYPD was shown...INCLUDING Officers Terrence Howell & Tamara Taylor.
30-I said yes.
He said "you're a hero".
I told him I wasn't & asked him why I was a hero?
He said "he killed 4 people last night"
He said "you're a hero".
I told him I wasn't & asked him why I was a hero?
He said "he killed 4 people last night"
31-Unfortunately that would be the last time the #NYPD would be honest about it.
Spin started almost immediately:
Spin started almost immediately:
32-In a press conference, Mayor @MikeBloomberg along w/Commissioner Ray Kelly LIED the world.
"Thanks to the swift action of #NYPD Officers Terrence Howell & Tamara Taylor & off-duty officer Marcelo Razzo, Maksim Gelman was arrested earlier today on an uptown #3 subway train".
"Thanks to the swift action of #NYPD Officers Terrence Howell & Tamara Taylor & off-duty officer Marcelo Razzo, Maksim Gelman was arrested earlier today on an uptown #3 subway train".
33-Also not mentioned was the REAL hero that day, the man who saved MY life when the #NYPD chose not to, Alfred Douglas.
For the record, Howell & Taylor HID for their safety until I disarmed Maksim Gelman.
Marcelo Razzo wasn't even on the train.
For the record, Howell & Taylor HID for their safety until I disarmed Maksim Gelman.
Marcelo Razzo wasn't even on the train.
34- #NYPD Officer Terrence Howell testified before a Grand Jury assembled to indict Maksim Gelman that
"I started to come out of the engineers booth but I thought Gelman had a gun so I closed the door and stayed inside."
Let that sink in for a moment.
"I started to come out of the engineers booth but I thought Gelman had a gun so I closed the door and stayed inside."
Let that sink in for a moment.
35-I wanted the #NYPD to be held accountable.
People need to be held accountable for their actions or in this case, their "inactions".
I'm no Clyde Shelton so I could only do one thing, bring legal action against them.
People need to be held accountable for their actions or in this case, their "inactions".
I'm no Clyde Shelton so I could only do one thing, bring legal action against them.
36-The Judge assigned to my case against was the Honorable Margaret A. Chan.
"Honorable" indeed.
"Honorable" indeed.
37-Proving Howell & Taylor aren't the only chickens, the #NYPD moved to dismiss my case. Smart move. I would have crucified them in Court.
The argument presented by #NYC Corp. Counsel lawyer Michael Gibek (pictured):
"the #NYPD owed no duty to protect".
I'm not kidding.
The argument presented by #NYC Corp. Counsel lawyer Michael Gibek (pictured):
"the #NYPD owed no duty to protect".
I'm not kidding.
38-Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, Chan actually sided with #NYC & #NYPD & agreed they "owed no duty to protect"
This isn't the 1st time Chan's questionable integrity has saved #NYC's ass.
Check this out: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/wrongful-death-suit-tossed-unconscious-woman-didn-call-911-article-1.1448284
This isn't the 1st time Chan's questionable integrity has saved #NYC's ass.
Check this out: https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/wrongful-death-suit-tossed-unconscious-woman-didn-call-911-article-1.1448284
39-This was her official decision.
Keep in mind, as the Judge, she could've allowed this to go to trial.
The Justice System is broken.
http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/fcas_docs/2013JUL/3001010882012002SCIV.pdf
Keep in mind, as the Judge, she could've allowed this to go to trial.
The Justice System is broken.
http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/fcas_docs/2013JUL/3001010882012002SCIV.pdf
40- @nypost article:
"Zero for hero: Judge snubs man hurt stopping 'Butcher of Brighton Beach" https://nypost.com/2013/07/26/zero-for-hero-judge-snubs-man-hurt-stopping-butcher-of-brighton-beach/
"Zero for hero: Judge snubs man hurt stopping 'Butcher of Brighton Beach" https://nypost.com/2013/07/26/zero-for-hero-judge-snubs-man-hurt-stopping-butcher-of-brighton-beach/
41-In case you're wondering what happened to #NYPD Officer Terrance Howell...he was honored for his "bravery".
Again, I'm not kidding.
https://www.facebook.com/NYPD/photos/267916806618442
Again, I'm not kidding.
https://www.facebook.com/NYPD/photos/267916806618442
42-Here was the press release from the @NYCPBA.
Keep in mind, law enforcement officers who actually did amazing things were also honored that day. How Howell could take his place amongst actual heroes is beyond me.
"Finest of the Finest"
Keep in mind, law enforcement officers who actually did amazing things were also honored that day. How Howell could take his place amongst actual heroes is beyond me.
"Finest of the Finest"
43-A few things you may be interested in watching regarding this story. This was done by the amazing @Lukewearechange
44-This animation by @cracked is approaching 9,000,000 views on YouTube.
45-While there have been a few documentaries done on the subject, this one, BY FAR, is the most accurate: https://vimeo.com/175292758
46-THANK YOU to those who've reached out to me & my family with messages of support over the last 10 years.
Your actions & kind words have helped immeasurably.
Your actions & kind words have helped immeasurably.
47-In closing, you tell me who stopped the knife-wielding, drug-addled psychopath with the knife 10 years ago today.
All of these pics were taken on the same day.
Howell looks pretty good for a guy who embarked in hand to hand combat with a guy holding an 8" knife, no? #Ninja
All of these pics were taken on the same day.
Howell looks pretty good for a guy who embarked in hand to hand combat with a guy holding an 8" knife, no? #Ninja
48-PLEASE spread the word. My only recourse is telling & retelling this story. The more people know about this the better prepared they'll be. The system did everything to crush this story but we as citizens can be POWERFUL! Please retweet this as much as possible! Thank you!
