New York man Diego Figueroa-Hepner left his neighbor to ‘die on the steps’ in brutal Manhattan subway stabbing

The Washington Heights man accused of fatally slashing his neighbor in a subway station left his victim “to die on the steps,” prosecutors argued Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court before a judge ordered him to remain behind bars without bail.

Diego Figueroa-Hepner, 24, did not speak during his 11 p.m. arraignment on second-degree murder charges for the brutal stabbing of musician Johnny Medina at the 175th Street station.

“Despite the accused’s lack of criminal record, in this case, the accused committed a brazen crime on the subway, without caring for the victim’s life, leaving her to die on the steps,” said a deputy prosecutor to the presiding judge.

“Given the strength of the case and the fact that the accused faces life imprisonment, which provides a strong incentive for him to flee the jurisdiction. Pretrial detention is necessary and appropriate.

Peter Laumann, Figueroa-Hepner’s attorney with the Legal Aid Society, said there was more to the story and insinuated that the 24-year-old was also injured in the bloody brawl.

“My client was arrested in hospital with large knife and cut wounds to his legs, arms and head,” Laumann told the court.

Figueroa-Hepner, who was wearing green shorts, a white T-shirt and Nike sneakers, had no visible injuries at the arraignment.

After assessing Figueroa-Hepner’s lack of criminal history, the judge ordered him held without bail.

Neither the prosecution nor defense attorneys have hinted at a possible motive for the killing, but neighbors and sources told The Post on Saturday that the two men — who lived across the street from each other — had already clashed.

“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 complaining about this guy maybe ago a month”, Medina’s paternal cousin, Maximo Reves, 42 years old. , alleged.

Figueroa-Hepner was allegedly wearing a balaclava when he ambushed Medina in the train station, stabbing him multiple times in the neck and body.

Medina – who was preparing to board a northbound A train to see a movie with his girlfriend – succumbed to his injuries at Harlem Hospital.

Laumann and Figueroa-Hepner’s father declined when asked by the Post to comment.

The alleged murderer is due back in court on June 27.