Scarsdale Art Teacher Slashed While Trying to Stop a Subway Attack

Scarsdale Art Teacher John Catania was injured when he intervened in a subway attackWith its motto of “Non Sibi (not for oneself alone),” the Scarsdale School District has long taught its students, from kindergarten through 12th grade, how to be upstanders, to stop bullying, and to stand up for others if/when they are unable to stand up for themselves. On Tuesday November 22nd, SHS art teacher John Catania, age 29, put these teachings into action when he heroically stepped in to stop an attack on a fellow subway rider.

The incident took place as Mr. Catania, who joined the faculty at Scarsdale High School this past summer, was traveling on the L train around 10:30 pm. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information (DCPI) of the NYPD, when police arrived they found “two victims with sustained lacerations; a 29-year-old male with lacerations to the head and back and a 28-year-old female with a laceration to the face.”

The report says, “The female victim was on board the north bound 'L' train, entering Manhattan from Brooklyn, when an unidentified adult male sitting across from her engaged her in a dispute which escalated to him grabbing her, striking her on the cheek with an unknown (and unrecovered) sharp instrument, and making anti-Muslim statements.” This is when Mr. Catania stepped in to intervene and was unfortunately struck on the head and back by the male with the same sharp instrument.

While the suspect fled the train at Union Square Station, both our hometown hero and the Muslim woman, although in stable condition, were rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment of their lacerations. Mr. Catania needed 26 staples to his head. Fortunately, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force has identified the offender of the incident and he is currently in police custody.

Apparently Mr. Catania felt alone in his heroic efforts as he told the Daily News, “I was really hoping someone would help me out.”

Indeed, the world could use more upstanders like John Catania…people who don’t only teach others the importance of doing good wherever you can, but who also don’t hesitate to stand up to hate themselves.