Subway 'Hero' John Rote Posts Bail After Gun Intervention in Robbery Attempt

Victim grateful but wishes Rote hadn't used a gun; criticizes MTA and NYPD for lack of safety measures

John Rote, a 43-year-old man, intervened in a robbery attempt on a New York City subway by firing two warning shots, causing the would-be robber, Matthew Roesch, to flee. No one was injured in the incident.
The woman who was the target of the attempted robbery expressed gratitude for Rote's intervention but wished he hadn't used a firearm. She criticized the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) for the lack of safety measures in the subway system.
Rote was arrested the following day at his job after an anonymous tipster recognized him from police-leaked footage. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, and menacing.
Rote, who has no prior arrests, posted bail and returned to his home in Queens. He allegedly admitted to the shooting and told police he had disposed of the gun in the East River.
The woman also criticized the MTA and NYPD for not doing enough to prevent such incidents, citing another unsettling encounter with a homeless person at the same subway station earlier that day.
The woman called for stronger punishments for repeat offenders like Roesch, who has been repeatedly arrested for selling MetroCard swipes on subways.