Family and friends of a Manhattan musician senselessly stabbed to death at a subway station last month packed a courtroom Tuesday morning to witness the arraignment of his alleged killer. Diego Figueroa-Hepner, 24, stands accused of following 40-year-old Johnny Medina into the West 175th Street subway station, near Fort Washington Avenue, in Washington Heights at around 5:30 p.m.
on June 21. Court documents and sources familiar with the investigation report that Figueroa-Hepner and Medina had been acquainted with one another and had some kind of dispute online. Despite the altercation Medina’s mother, Estela Reyes, said she did not recognize her son’s alleged killer.
Upon seeing him in court Tuesday, a wave of grief washed over her once more. “I am very surprised I didn’t know him,” Reyes said with the help of a translator. “It’s tough, really tough.
He took my son’s life.” The family and friends of 40-year-old Johnny Medina packed a 9th floor courtroom located 111 Centre Street on July 23 to face the man who reportedly stole the beloved artist from them in a bloody attack last month. Photo by Dean Moses Other members of the family say they are also in deep pain and are just trying to stay strong following the loss.
Still, they say they are trying to focus on who Medina was, recalling him as a caring and loving man. “He had a beautiful heart. And all he wanted to do was help the community, help the talented kids in the neighborhood and he never deserved th.