Thug punches, kicks, stomps man to death in subway station because he didn't like the way victim looked at him, officials say

New York City police said a 25-year-old male admitted to beating a man to death inside a Brooklyn subway station, ABC News reported.

Police said officers arrived at the Jay Street station just after 3 p.m. Tuesday after getting a call about an "aided male," the news network said.

Police added that suspect had a katana sword — with a blade of more than 20 inches in length — resting in his lap at the time of the arrest, WABC reported.

Upon arrival, officers "observed an unidentified male, unconscious and unresponsive, with trauma about the body," police added to ABC News.

Paramedics transported the victim to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in "critical condition"; he later was "pronounced deceased," police told the news network.

The suspect punched, kicked, and stomped 64-year-old Nicola Tanzi — and allegedly admitted to detectives that he did it because he didn't like the way the victim looked at him, police told WABC-TV, which added that Tanzi suffered a fractured skull.

Authorities named the suspect as 25-year-old David Mazariegos late Wednesday afternoon, WABC reported, adding that he's been charged with murder, robbery, and grand larceny.

Authorities added that Mazariegos has 17 prior arrests, including for assault earlier this year, petit larceny, and graffiti, WABC said.

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WABC said Mazariegos was arrested around 10 p.m. Tuesday after NYPD officers assigned to the subway in Times Square saw him sitting on the sidewalk.

Police added that suspect had a katana sword — with a blade of more than 20 inches in length — resting in his lap at the time of the arrest, WABC reported.

What's more, police told WABC that Mazariegos also was in possession of four of the victim's credit cards — including one the suspect allegedly used to make a Target purchase Tuesday night.

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Detectives also are looking into similarities between Tuesday's murder and the death of a worker who confronted a shoplifter at a Morton Williams in Hell's Kitchen last month, WABC said.

More on what led to the deadly attack, according to WABC:

Police say the suspect was pulling on the exit gate at the Jay Street-MetroTech station, attempting to gain entry around 3 p.m. Tuesday when Tanzi approached.

The two exchanged words, and the suspect sucker punched the 64-year-old, knocking him to the ground.

According to investigators, video from MTA security cameras recorded the suspect then punching, kicking, and stomping the victim's head 15 times while he was on the ground.

Police say the suspect was then seen boarding a Bronx-bound No. 2 train.

Candles burned at the scene of the crime Wednesday in memory of Tanzi, WABC said, adding that others said he was a security guard and a nice guy.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the department's domain awareness system, which sent photos of the suspect to officers' phones, after which the suspect was arrested, WABC reported.

"Right after this horrific attack, the entire NYPD received an emergency alert to their phones with photos of the suspect and a physical description," Tisch said on X. "Eagle-eyed cops working near Times Square recognized this perp from the photos they had just received and immediately brought this dangerous criminal into custody."

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