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A 26-year-old Brooklyn man was charged with murder Monday in the fatal Penn Station slaying of a “gifted” down-on-his-luck soccer player, authorities said.
Jamoy Phillip was due to be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court later Monday in the Nov. 21 fatal slashing of Akeem Loney, a talented street footballer who had struggled to get back on his feet in recent years.
Phillip allegedly fled to Pennsylvania after the attack and was tracked down by US Marshals, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
Loney, 32, who once played and coached youngsters through the Manhattan-based Street Soccer USA program, was dozing on a Nov. 2 train shortly after midnight when he was stabbed in the neck in the unprovoked attack, police and pals said.
His assailant fled the station, and police released surveillance images of the attacker.
Former Street Soccer coach Reed Fox had told The Post after the attack that Loney was “just a great guy” who had fought to overcome homelessness in recent years.
“Not everybody working through homelessness and problems can maintain a positive attitude and be happy and find ways to have fun,” Reed said. “And he did that.”
He described Loney as a “gifted” and “amazing” player who adored the game.
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