On Monday morning, a series of unprovoked stabbings occurred across Manhattan, resulting in two fatalities and one individual fighting for her life, as reported by the New York City Police Department. The suspect, a 51-year-old male believed to be homeless, is currently in custody. With a history of eight previous arrests, including a recent one for grand larceny in October 2024, the suspect's identity has not been disclosed by the NYPD.
New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed concern over the incident, citing it as a glaring example of the failures within the criminal justice and mental health systems that impact New Yorkers. During a news conference, Mayor Adams highlighted the need to investigate why the suspect, who had been sentenced for a crime a few months prior, was roaming the streets and why his apparent severe mental health issues had not been properly addressed.
The first stabbing took place around 8:22 a.m. when a 36-year-old male, standing in front of a construction site in Chelsea, was attacked by a light-skinned man with a beard who stabbed him in the abdomen. Subsequently, at approximately 10:27 a.m., a 68-year-old male fishing near the East River was stabbed multiple times throughout his body, leading to his tragic demise. Both victims were pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
Shortly after, at 10:55 a.m., a 36-year-old woman was also stabbed multiple times near the United Nations Headquarters. A vigilant cab driver, mistaking the incident for a robbery, trailed the suspect and alerted an NYPD officer, resulting in the suspect's apprehension. The police recovered two bloodied kitchen knives from the suspect and noted his attire was stained with blood.
The NYPD has refrained from disclosing the victims' identities until their families have been duly notified of the tragic events that unfolded in Manhattan on Monday morning.
