The father of the Brooklyn man accused of throwing a straphanger onto an incoming 1 train on Tuesday says his son was well until three weeks ago, when he began “acting weird.”
“Lately he’s been going through something, some mental issue,” Shamel Hawkins, 40, told The Post on Wednesday, as his son, Kamel Hawkins, was ordered held without bail at his attempted murder hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court.
“We think somebody put something in his weed,” stated the elder Hawkins. “He was fine about three weeks ago, but then he began acting strangely. We wanted to help him, but he refused.”
Hawkins had lived in the Whitman Houses public housing complex with his father and brother, according to his father, but he eventually moved to a shelter.
Kamel Hawkins, 23, was arrested near Columbus Circle on Tuesday, just hours after police said he shoved a straphanger over Manhattan subway lines in a horrific random attack.
The 45-year-old victim is shown in terrifying footage tumbling into the path of an incoming 1 train at the 18th Street station, but fortunately survives with only head injuries.
According to the criminal complaint filed early Wednesday, the unidentified victim suffered four broken ribs, a fractured head, and a ruptured spleen.
According to law enforcement sources, the individual was fortunate to fall into a “trench” on the tracks beneath the train during the 1:30 p.m. attack.
Police accused Hawkins with attempted murder and assault.
Shamel Hawkins told The Post that he had no idea his problematic son had been accused of subway shoving — and that he had last seen him before the holidays.
“We saw him here [on] Christmas,” the elder Hawkins explained. “I saw him on Christmas right here. Oh no, I can’t believe that.
“He needs help. We love him, but we can’t help him because he refused to accept the help we offered. We strive to help, but if he refuses, what can we do?
“He needs help. “He needs mental assistance.”
According to law enforcement officials, the suspected subway shover had at least three past arrests, including an assault on an NYPD cop in Queens in June 2019, in which he allegedly body-slammed the officer and injured his back.
“Anyone who attacks a cop in full uniform is capable of doing far worse to defenseless civilians,” New York Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry told The Post on Tuesday. “Every time the justice system drops the ball on an assault on a police officer, it puts every New Yorker in danger.”
Hawkins has an open assault, harassment, and weapons possession case in Brooklyn since October.
Prosecutors said Wednesday that they requested Hawkins be kept on bond in that case, but he was instead referred to a court intervention program on October 20.
According to the state court system, the “Problem-Solving Courts” initiative aims to provide alternatives to incarceration.