Protesters demand free public transit in NYC after subway police shooting

Brooklyn, N.Y. (PIX11) – Protesters rallied in front of a Brooklyn subway station on Tuesday to call for free public transportation after NYPD officers shot a man accused of evading the $2.90 fare.

At least 18 people were arrested during the protest, according to the NYPD.

Derell Mickles, 37, is accused of charging at officers with a knife when they followed him after he didn't pay to ride the subway at the Sutter Avenue station on Sunday. That's when officers opened fire, according to the NYPD.

Mickles, two bystanders and an officer were all injured in the shooting. He allegedly told the officers, "I am going to kill you if you don’t stop following me," before shots were fired, police said.

One of the bystanders is having surgery to relieve swelling in the brain as a result of the shooting, according to a family member.

Protesters argued that there wouldn't be a need for enforcement activity underground if there were no cost to ride the subways. The NYPD's presence in subways increased following a string of crimes earlier this year.

The city also recently rolled out increased enforcement action to reduce fare evasion. Fare evasion cost the MTA $700 million in 2023, according to a watchdog group.

"They need to figure out that and stop worrying about the fare, chasing people down, this happened off a fare," Relly, a protester, told PIX11 News.

Mickles is in critical condition, officials said. He was charged with attempted assault, theft of services, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.