Two young girls have tragically died in a horrifying case of “subway surfing” in Brooklyn. Authorities found their bodies early Saturday morning at the Marcy Avenue station in Brooklyn, just after 3 a.m., after responding to a 911 call.
The victims have now been identified as Zemfira Mukhtarov, aged 12, of Brooklyn, and Ebba Morina, aged 13, of Manhattan.
Investigators believe the girls met via social media and snuck out of their homes late on Friday night seeking adventure. Instead, the deadly thrill ended with them riding on the outside of a moving subway train — a practice officials warned is extremely dangerous.
Transit authorities have condemned the activity. The president of the New York City Transit Authority called the act “suicide” rather than a harmless stunt and urged parents, teachers, and peers to speak clearly with children about the risks.
In recent years, subway surfing has claimed more lives and prompted a sharp rise in related arrests. New York officials say the trend is being fueled in part by social media posts — and that both infrastructure and educational responses are required.
The families of both girls are now grieving. In one home, the younger sister identified her sister’s skateboard and bag on the news before the family even knew what had happened.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder: what may appear as a daring thrill can quickly become a fatal mistake.
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