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Joseph LozitoAmerican who neutralized a maniac
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- The Hero of New York
- The Subway Attack
- The Aftermath and National Acclaim
- Accusations of Police Negligence
- The Jury Member's Story
- A Loss of Respect
- Official Response and Public Reaction
The Hero of New York
On a fateful day in February, America found a new national hero: Joseph Lotito. This 40-year-old man single-handedly disarmed a knife-wielding maniac, Maxim Gelman, who had terrorized New York for over a day. And just a month and a half later, the Philadelphia father of two and ticket-seller decided to sue the city for police negligence.
The Subway Attack
According to the version of events put forward by the plaintiff and his lawyers, the morning of February 12 unfolded as follows. Lotito, a ticket booth agent at Lincoln Center, was riding the subway to work as usual. Between stations, a passenger began banging on the conductor's door, demanding to be let in. Upon being refused, the young man pulled out a large kitchen knife, approached the nearest passenger, and lunged at him with the words "Now you're going to die."
Lotito, the passenger, was no shrinking violet. Despite suffering several stab wounds, the brawny father of two (who stands 6'3" and weighs 270 lbs) used a wrestling move to subdue the attacker. Soon after, two police officers emerged from the conductor's cabin and assisted Lotito in apprehending the assailant.
It turned out that the man Lotito had disarmed was none other than Maxim Gelman, a Ukrainian immigrant who had been on the New York police's most wanted list for the suspected murder of four people. Lotito later admitted that he had not had time to read the newspaper that day and was therefore unaware that his opponent was the wanted killer.
The Aftermath and National Acclaim
Lotito's life changed dramatically after that day. The 40-year-old ticket-seller became an instant national hero in the United States. Newspapers were filled with photos of him at the scene, his face bloodied and being bandaged by paramedics. After recovering from his injuries, Lotito became a frequent guest on talk shows and was featured in countless newspaper articles.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a leading organizer of mixed martial arts tournaments, embraced Lotito as one of their own. To the delight of the marketers, it turned out that Lotito was a long-time fan of mixed martial arts and never missed a UFC fight. Although Lotito had never trained in the sport, he claimed to have mastered a few techniques over the years, including the one he used to neutralize Gelman.
Accusations of Police Negligence
Despite his willingness to give interviews, Lotito remained humble. He repeatedly emphasized that the true heroes were the police officers and paramedics, who not only captured a dangerous criminal but also saved his (Lotito's) life.
In his initial statements, the Philadelphian implied that the police officers were the ones who had disarmed the gunman. "I'm alive because of the police," the "hero of the subway" declared in the days following his release from the hospital. He also stated that he would have bled to death if not for the paramedics.
However, his statements took a dramatic turn in late March. On March 22, Lotito announced that he intended to sue New York City for the negligence of its police officers. In documents that his lawyers planned to file in Manhattan court on March 25, the Philadelphian alleged that the officers acted not like heroes that day but like cowards, who nearly cost him his life.
The Jury Member's Story
Lotito claimed that the account of a juror in Gelman's trial had prompted him to file the lawsuit. According to Lotito, the juror relayed to him the words of one of the two "hero" officers who had been called to testify in court. The officer said that he and his partner had spotted the armed man in the subway car before he had attacked Lotito. However, instead of detaining the suspicious individual, the officers locked themselves in the conductor's cabin, mistaking the shiny object he was holding for a gun.
Upon hearing this, Lotito said he felt profoundly traumatized. He told reporters that he had had to relive the entire incident in the New York subway all over again. "I was very upset," the national hero confessed.
A Loss of Respect
Lotito's attorney, Edmond Shamakian, said that his client had always respected law enforcement but had now lost all faith in them.
According to Joseph Lotito, the police officers violated several requirements for law enforcement personnel by hiding with the conductor and leaving him alone with the armed madman. They failed to prevent the crime, they did not recognize the passenger as a wanted criminal (all city police units had received Gelman's description), and they did not use their service weapons (although this would have been a questionable move in a crowded subway car). Lotito also accused the officers of delaying in giving him first aid, which nearly led to his death. "I thought I was going to bleed to death," the hero lamented. Lotito said that the injuries he sustained in his fight with Gelman still bothered him, causing him severe headaches.
Official Response and Public Reaction
The New York City authorities have yet to issue an official response. It is likely that the city administration will present their perspective on the situation once the lawsuit is filed. However, their position can be easily predicted. Previously, they have emphasized that Gelman was neutralized by law enforcement, albeit with the assistance of a vigilant citizen.
The outcome of Lotito's lawsuit is difficult to predict. If the plaintiff's version of events, allegedly based on the testimony of a police officer, is corroborated, he certainly has a chance of winning the case (and substantial compensation). However, regardless of the outcome of this legal battle, Lotito's intentions have already raised questions about his status as a national hero and have divided Americans following this story.
Some, who yesterday considered the 40-year-old ticket-seller a hero and role model, have now turned against their former idol, accusing him of mercenary motives. Others suspect that this giant is not as simple as he seems; instead of basking in the glory, the father of two has decided to claim what he believes is a legitimate reward for his services as a crime fighter. Still others refuse to question Lotito's integrity and find a new reason to praise him. For them, he is now not only the hero who brought down an armed killer but also the whistleblower who exposed cowardly police officers.
