A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for a series of stabbing attacks on homeless individuals in New York City during the summer of 2022. The perpetrator, identified as Trevon Murphy, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the violent assaults that resulted in one fatality and left two others critically injured.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed concern over the safety of unhoused individuals, stating that they should not have to live in fear while already facing the challenges of homelessness. The attacks occurred in various locations across the city, targeting individuals who were sleeping outside.
The first incident took place on July 5, 2022, when Murphy fatally stabbed a person sleeping on a bench in Hudson River Park. The victim succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to Bellevue Hospital. Subsequent attacks occurred on July 9 and July 11, where Murphy targeted sleeping individuals in Midtown Manhattan and the Upper East Side, respectively.
During the assaults, Murphy deliberately aimed for the lower abdomen of each victim, a method he referred to as the 'stabber's choice.' Authorities revealed that Murphy had an outstanding warrant in Tennessee at the time of the attacks and should not have been roaming the streets.
Murphy was apprehended on July 13, 2022, with a knife found in his possession during the arrest. Prior to these incidents, he was also accused of assaulting another homeless person in a Queens shelter in April 2022. Despite the sentencing, District Attorney Bragg acknowledged that it cannot reverse the loss of life or alleviate the suffering of the victims but hopes it brings some solace and closure to those affected.
