A 43-year-old New York City man faces serious charges after allegedly firing two rounds at another man who reportedly attempted to rob a female passenger in a Manhattan subway.
John Rote of Astoria, Queens, witnessed 49-year-old Matthew Roesch allegedly hold open the emergency gate for the woman before blocking her entry to the subway car.
According to the New York Post, the woman attempted to walk around Roesch, but he stepped into her path. He allegedly said, “If you don’t give me a dollar, I’m going to take your purse.” At that point, Rote produced his firearm and exclaimed, “Get away from her.”
Predictably, the city is enthralled with the question of whether Rote is a menacing vigilante or a hero.
The woman’s defender, who has no criminal record and has never been reported as needing mental health treatment, now faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment and menacing.
Conviction could result in three and a half years in prison. Roesch was hit with an attempted robbery charge that could net him seven years behind bars.
Rote’s defense attorney said he owned the gun for thirteen years and was simply coming to the rescue of a threatened subway rider. Marie Calvert-Kilbane of New York County Defender Services said Thursday evening that her client was “concerned for his safety and someone else’s safety and reacted.”
Law enforcement took Rote into custody Wednesday afternoon at his desk at Panavision, a company that rents photography and video equipment. He reportedly admitted to firing the shots and said he later threw the weapon into the East River.
No one was struck by the two rounds.
Bail was set for Rote, who was originally from West Virginia, at $10,000 cash, bond or credit card. Prosecutors deemed the defendant a flight risk for his roots elsewhere.
