A New York City court has dismissed all assault charges against Nassadir Tate, 21, who was accused of a role in the death of Johnson Eweka, 55. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office stated that a thorough investigation, encompassing surveillance footage review, witness interviews, autopsy results, and the defendant's statement, led to the conclusion that Tate's actions were justified.
The incident occurred on March 14 at the subway station located at Eighth Avenue and West 34th Street in Penn Station. According to the DA's office, surveillance video indicated that the altercation began when Tate inadvertently bumped into Eweka. This was followed by Eweka pushing Tate, and a verbal exchange ensued.
Officials reported that Eweka then stepped in front of Tate, blocking his path, removed his jacket, and adopted a fighting stance. In response, Tate delivered a single punch to Eweka's face before walking away. Approximately two minutes later, Eweka collapsed. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that evening.
An autopsy performed on March 15, 2026, determined the cause of death to be a ruptured cerebral artery aneurysm, which occurred subsequent to the facial blow. Tate, who was a part-time model, was unaware of Eweka's death until he was informed by investigators during his interview following his arrest.
Tate's attorney, Wayne Gosnell, stated that his client was placed in a dangerous situation and defended himself. "He defended himself just as anyone would have," Gosnell said, adding that Tate fully cooperated with the police and expressed relief that his innocence was acknowledged in court. Tate's account of the events matched the surveillance footage, according to officials.
Prior to the dismissal, Tate had appeared in court, dressed sharply for the proceedings. His family members had previously described him as a non-violent individual and not an aggressor, asserting that the victim initiated the physical confrontation.