Metro

NYC man accused of fatally stabbing musician neighbor inside subway station

By
Social Links for Georgia Worrell
Published June 22, 2024, 6:40 p.m. ET

A Washington Heights man is in custody on murder charges after he fatally stabbed his neighbor inside an Upper Manhattan subway station, police said.

Diego Figueroa-Hepner is accused of knifing musician Johnny Medina in the 175th Street station multiple times in the neck and body, authorities said.

Medina, 40, lived across the street from Figueroa-Hepner, 24, and was a “vibrant presence” in his native Washington Heights, his “devastated” family told The Post. 

He was about to board a northbound A train to see a movie with his girlfriend, who lives in Yonkers, when he was attacked.

Figueroa-Hepner was allegedly wearing a balaclava mask during the incident, a police source said. 

Johnny Medina wearing a hat and flannel, and holding a sign that reads "Johnny Medina / Jack & Coke"
Johnny Medina, a lifelong Washington Heights resident, died from the stab wounds Friday. Courtesy of Anthony Revés

Medina died of his injuries at Harlem Hospital, according to cops.

“He was an amazing artist, hip hop artist, lifelong hip hop fan – he was all about spreading love and light through his music…and he was very proud to represent Washington Heights,” Medina’s paternal cousin, Maximo Reyes, 42, told The Post Saturday. 

Diego Figueroa-Hepner in handcuffs getting escorted by police out of the NYPD 33rd Precinct
Diego Figueroa-Hepner, 24, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for the stabbing. William Farrington

Medina, who went by the moniker “J McFly”, “was filled with infinite dreams and inspired us to dream big along with him,” said another cousin, Anthony Reyes. 

“It’s tragic his life ended at this point of his journey. His light will inspire our family forever,” added the 37-year-old.

The cousins also claimed the fateful incident wasn’t the first time Medina and Figueroa-Hepner clashed. 

Police officer standing in front of taped off entrance to A train subway station at W175th Street and Fort Washington Avenue
First responders transported Medina from the station to Harlem Hospital, where he died from his injuries, cops said. Christopher Sadowski
Police, some wearing hazmat suits, at the scene where a person was fatally stabbed inside the A train subway station at W175th Street and Fort Washington Avenue
Medina was stabbed multiple times in the neck and torso, police said. Christopher Sadowski

“I guess this guy became pretty obsessed with Johnny, and was posting pretty negative things [on social media] about Johnny…So Johnny filed a police report to complain about this guy maybe a month ago,” Maximo alleged. 

A police source confirmed the pair had previously had a spat on social media, but could not immediately say whether the dispute was reported to law enforcement. 

Figueroa-Hepner was arrested Saturday and charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Additional reporting by Marie Pohl.