Six people were injured during their Monday morning commute in Jersey City when an escalator packed with commuters inexplicably changed directions, sending riders tumbling down the moving stairwell. 

At 9 a.m., passengers were traveling up from a station platform at the Exchange Place PATH station in Jersey City, N.J., when it suddenly started moving downward.  

Port Authority spokesman Ron Marsico said officials don't know what caused the escalator to malfunction.

Cell phone video footage shows passengers stepping forward quickly in an effort to counteract the escalator. Several started yelling, "Stop!" They quickly gave in, however, and the escalator carried them down to the lower platform. A law enforcement official arrived within a minute.  

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Five people were taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, Marsico said.

Commuter Nick Lukish said he was headed to work and was halfway up the escalator when it started going down.
 
The 33-year-old said he some people on the escalator jumped onto an adjacent escalator. Lukish says he sustained cuts and bruises.
 
Two of the station's three escalators have been shut down. Exchange Place remained open to commuters Monday. 

A 3-month-old child who fell out a window and plunged three stories in his mother's arms when the baby's father allegedly attacked them at their New Jersey apartment last week has died, police said.

The baby had been listed in extremely critical condition at the hospital since the brutal attack Friday. His mother is in a medically induced coma in stable but critical condition.

A third woman who was wounded by the suspect when she tried to call 911 was expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday after undergoing emergency surgery.

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Police alleged that Frederico Bruno, 19, repeatedly stabbed both women and then pushed his ex-girlfriend into an air conditioner, causing her and the baby to go through a window and fall three stories, authorities said.
 
The woman landed on top of her child.

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Bruno was taken into custody hours after the attack when police found him hiding in a refrigerator in a vacant apartment a few miles away.

He was charged on Monday with 17 counts, including attempted murder and child abuse.

Frederico Bruno is accused of pushing his ex-girlfriend into an air conditioner, causing her and her 3-month-old baby to fall three stories.

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Police said they were continuing to work with prosecutors to determine if additional charges should be filed against Bruno.

He was being held Monday and couldn't be reached for comment. He hadn't been arraigned, and it was unclear if he had an attorney.

Jonathan Dienst is chief investigative reporter for WNBC in New York.

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