Two men were killed, and a woman was critically injured during an unprovoked stabbing spree [1] in Manhattan on Monday morning.
The attacker, identified as a 51-year-old homeless man with a history of eight prior arrests, was apprehended with the help of a quick-thinking cab driver, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.
The incident began around 8:20 a.m. when the assailant approached a 30-year-old construction worker on West 19th Street near Eighth Avenue.
The victim was stabbed in the stomach and rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he later died.
The suspect fled the scene and resurfaced nearly two hours later on East 30th Street near the FDR Drive.
Breaking: the suspect in the random stabbing incidents (2 are dead, 1 in critical condition) in Manhattan this morning is Ramon Rivera. He’s been arrested 8 times, 7 of them for felonies in NY, and also has a criminal history in FL. pic.twitter.com/ebZOVlgehP [2]
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) November 18, 2024 [3]
There, he attacked a man in his 60s, stabbing him multiple times. The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital but also succumbed to his injuries.
Shortly before 11 a.m., the attacker targeted a woman near East 42nd Street and First Avenue, close to the United Nations building.
The woman was stabbed in the chest and taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition.
A cab driver witnessed the third attack and followed the suspect, eventually alerting an NYPD officer.
Officers apprehended the man at East 46th Street and First Avenue.
Two knives were recovered at the scene, and charges against the suspect are pending.
During a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Mayor Eric Adams expressed frustration with the failures of the criminal justice and mental health systems.
“Today, we have three innocent New Yorkers, just going about their lives, who were the victims of a terrible, terrible assault,” Adams said. “It is a clear, clear example of the criminal justice system, mental health system that continues to fail New Yorkers.”
WATCH LIVE: Join me and Interim @NYPDPC [4] Donlon at the 17th Precinct as we provide updates on several investigations in Manhattan. https://t.co/YJKwCT8oGT [5]
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 18, 2024 [6]
Police stated that the attacks appeared to be random and that the victims had no connection to the suspect.
The alleged attacker is a resident of the Bellevue Men’s Shelter, highlighting ongoing concerns about homelessness and mental health issues in New York City.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the motive behind the attacks.
The NYPD has not disclosed additional details about the suspect’s criminal history or potential mental health issues.
The tragic spree has reignited discussions about public safety and the challenges of addressing violent crime and mental health in the city.