Two elderly individuals, Leila Sumulong, 70, and Jose Fermin, 84, are seeking permission to sue New York City, alleging that a lack of security at Grand Central Station led to their severe injuries during a machete attack on April 11. The victims claim that police were not present on the platform during the assault by Anthony Griffin, who identified himself as "Lucifer" before being fatally shot by officers.

According to court papers, Sumulong was attacked on her back and Fermin on his head. Both victims have reportedly developed post-traumatic stress disorder and are now afraid to use the subway system. A third victim, a 65-year-old man, also sustained severe lacerations to his head and a skull fracture. Police stated that all three attacks occurred within a minute.

"This is a classic case of lack of security at a major station in the city of New York," attorney Joseph Napoli, representing Fermin and Sumulong, told The Post. "How did the police officers assigned to this station with all the equipment they have not notice ‘Lucifer’ walking around the platform with a machete?"

Sumulong and Fermin have filed a petition in Manhattan Supreme Court to file a late notice of claim against the city, which is a prerequisite for a lawsuit, after missing the standard 90-day deadline. The petition alleges that despite the "open and obvious nature of the attack," officers were only found after the victims left the platform and ascended to the general concourse.

Body camera footage released in May shows that police encountered Griffin at approximately 9:40 a.m., a minute after the slashings. Officers repeatedly ordered Griffin to drop his approximately 17-inch machete. Griffin refused, reportedly shouting, "Shoot me, please!" before advancing toward an officer, who then discharged their weapon. Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene.

The proposed notice of claim argues that the city and its agencies are responsible for the attack because the assailant was not stopped immediately and law enforcement failed to ensure the safety of subway platforms. The victims intend to file suit against the city, the NYPD, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), among other entities.

An NYPD spokesperson directed The Post to comments made by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at the time of the incident. Tisch stated, "Our officers were confronted with an armed individual who had already injured multiple people and was continuing to pose a threat. They gave clear commands, attempted to de-escalate, and when that threat did not stop, they took decisive action to stop it and protect New Yorkers on one of the busiest train platforms in the city."

City Hall and the MTA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A law firm representing Fermin and Sumulong stated that the victims' current focus is on their recovery, and they are not providing interviews or statements on the matter.