New York City — Xavian Collins, 17, has been charged as an adult with murder in the fatal shooting of Darrel Rodriguez, 26, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, on the northbound E train platform at the Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street station in Midtown Manhattan around 12:20 p.m. At his October 22 arraignment, a judge ordered him held without bail, the New York Post reported.
TL;DR: Xavian Collins, 17, is accused of shooting 26-year-old Darrel Rodriguez at point-blank range on a Midtown subway platform on October 17, possibly over a dispute about smoking on the train. Prosecutors pointed to cash photos on a phone Collins left behind as evidence of gang ties; his lawyer argued the photos could be AI-generated. A judge ordered Collins held without bail.
A Dispute That Turned Fatal
Collins and Rodriguez did not know each other, prosecutors said. The two had some kind of dispute, which sources said may have been over smoking on the train. Collins allegedly pulled a gun and shot Rodriguez at point-blank range, leaving him dying on the platform.
After the shooting, Collins “threw on a mask and put his hood up to conceal his ID,” prosecutor Madeline Holbrook said at the arraignment.
Cash Photos and Alleged Gang Ties
At the October 22 arraignment, prosecutors said Collins left his phone behind. On it were photos of “enormous piles of $100 bills,” which the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said was evidence of gang ties.
“With AI, You Could Create Any of Them”
Collins’ lawyer, Michael Horn, pushed back on the photos. “I see these photos and who knows these days if they’re real or not,” Horn said. “With AI, you could create any of them. The stack [of cash], I see, has a $5 bill on top.”
Held Without Bail
Judge Rachel Pauley was not persuaded by the defense’s argument. She ordered Collins held without bail, saying: “The allegations include the fact that he shot an individual in broad daylight in the New York City transit system at point-blank range, which led to this person’s death.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a 17-year-old being charged as an adult?
Xavian Collins, 17, has been charged as an adult with murder in the fatal shooting of Darrel Rodriguez, 26. Because of the adult murder charge, his case is proceeding in criminal court, where a judge ordered him held without bail at his October 22 arraignment.
What happened at the Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street station?
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, around 12:20 p.m., Collins allegedly shot Rodriguez at point-blank range on the northbound E train platform at the Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street station in Midtown Manhattan, leaving him dying on the platform.
Did Collins know Rodriguez?
No. Prosecutors said the two did not know each other. They had some kind of dispute, which sources said may have been over smoking on the train.
What evidence do prosecutors say links Collins to gangs?
Prosecutors said Collins left his phone behind, and it contained photos of what the Manhattan District Attorney’s office described as enormous piles of $100 bills — evidence the office said showed gang ties.
What did Collins’ lawyer say about the cash photos?
Lawyer Michael Horn questioned whether the photos were real. He said: “I see these photos and who knows these days if they’re real or not. With AI, you could create any of them. The stack [of cash], I see, has a $5 bill on top.”
What did the judge say at the arraignment?
Judge Rachel Pauley said she was not persuaded by the defense and ordered Collins held without bail, saying: “The allegations include the fact that he shot an individual in broad daylight in the New York City transit system at point-blank range, which led to this person’s death.”
Who was Darrel Rodriguez?
Rodriguez, 26, was the man fatally shot on the E train platform. The New York Post described him as a beloved NYC security guard.
What happens next for Collins?
Collins remains held without bail as the case moves forward through the criminal court process.
