A man wielding a machete stabbed three people at Grand Central Terminal in New York City on Saturday morning before being fatally shot by police, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 9:40 a.m. when officers responded to an emergency call about an assault at the 42nd Street-Grand Central station. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said two officers were flagged down by a witness who reported that a man with a knife had stabbed people on the platform.

The three victims were an 84-year-old man, a 65-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman. One man sustained significant lacerations to the head and face, the other man had similar injuries along with an open skull fracture, and the woman had a laceration to her shoulder. All three victims were expected to survive their injuries.

When officers encountered the suspect, who was holding what police described as a machete, they gave him at least 20 verbal orders to drop the weapon. According to Tisch, the suspect repeatedly stated "that he was Lucifer" and refused to comply with police commands. One officer fired two shots, striking the suspect, who later died.

Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta said the attacks appeared to be random. Police were still investigating whether the stabbing began on the subway platform that services the 4, 5, and 6 trains or on one of the trains themselves.

The incident disrupted subway service at the major transit hub, with some trains not stopping at the station. The Metropolitan Transit Authority and police urged travelers to avoid the area and expect delays due to the ongoing investigation.