Queens Man Who Waived Knife At LIRR Workers Pleads Guilty: DA

QUEENS — A man from Jamaica who waived a knife at Long Island Rail Road workers onboard a train after they asked for his ticket last year pleaded guilty to attempted assault, prosecutors said.

Taijuan Corse, 32, pleaded guilty to waiving a knife at four workers on an eastbound LIRR train that departed from Atlantic Terminal after they asked for his ticket on Aug. 25, 2022, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

A judge ordered Corse to be banned from riding LIRR trains for three years, Katz said. He was also ordered to complete a one-year substance abuse and mental health outpatient program, according to the district attorney.

Corse boarded the train at Atlantic Avenue about 11 a.m. last year and, when conductor Steven Torborg asked for his ticket, the 32-year-old threatened him, prosecutors said.

Three other workers came to assist Torborg when Corse pulled out a knife from his backpack and waived it at them, Katz said.

Corse lunged with the knife toward 61-year-old Walter Doner, Jr. and swung the knife toward 52-year-old Richard Cutrone, cutting his arm, the district attorney said.

The man from Jamaica threatened to kill the workers, and, as the train approached the Jamaica LIRR train station, cut 60-year-old Gerald Lopez, prosecutors said.

If Corse fails to complete the mental health and substance abuse program, he could face one to three years in prison, Katz said.