John Rote, a 43-year-old New Yorker, is currently in police custody following an incident where he allegedly discharged his firearm at a man accused of attempting to rob a woman on a Manhattan subway platform.
The New York Post reported that the event unfolded on Tuesday when Rote observed Matthew Roesch, 49, purportedly holding the emergency gate open and demanding money from a woman before allowing her access to the subway.
According to police reports cited by the Post, the woman attempted to bypass Roesch, who allegedly obstructed her path and threatened, If you dont give me a dollar, Im going to take your purse. Rote, having witnessed the confrontation, yelled, Get away from her! before firing two shots down the platform. Marie Calvert-Kilbane, Rote's defense attorney, confirmed to the New York Post that Rote has been a legal gun owner for 13 years.
FOX 5 posed the question, Subway vigilante or hero? in a headline focused on Rote's actions. A 71-year-old resident of Hells Kitchen voiced support for Rote, stating, I dont think it was too much, though, because you dont know what that person had thats attacking that woman instead of asking her, may I have a dollar or something like that.
Rote, who has no prior criminal record, is facing charges including "criminal possession of a weapon and menacing." As reported by the New York Post, if convicted, these charges could result in a prison sentence of up to three and a half years.
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