Mayor Eric Adams blamed the system Monday afternoon for failing to stop the Manhattan stabbing spree suspect who allegedly killed two people at random and left another critically wounded.
“It is a clear example, the criminal justice system, mental health system continues to fail New Yorkers,” Adams said during a press conference at the 17th Precinct on Nov. 18 regarding the spree. “Three New Yorkers, unprovoked attacks that left us searching for answers on how something like this could happen.”
The spree, allegedly committed by a 51-year-old man with a lengthy rap sheet, led to the deaths of a 36-year-old construction worker and a 68-year-old fisherman. The suspect later turned his knives on a 36-year-old woman, leaving her in critical condition before finally being apprehended by an eagle-eyed officer at midday Monday.
While the suspect has not been formally identified, authorities paint a picture of an unhinged homeless man who has been arrested in New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida for violent assaults.
Here in New York, law enforcement sources report that the perpetrator was cuffed back in October of this year for a slew of burglaries and was next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 3 when he went on the stabbing spree.
“He was sentenced a few months ago, and there’s some real questions that we look at on why he was on the street,” Mayor Adams said. “And he has some severe mental health issues that should have been examined, and that’s what we’re looking into.”
The first fatal stabbing occurred outside the posh apartment building known as the Chelsea Club, located at 444 West 19th St., at around 8:22 a.m. on Nov. 18, while the second incident happened at 10:27 a.m. on East 30th and 1st Avenue. The last attack occurred just before 11 a.m. on 42nd Street and 1st Avenue.
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, a cab driver spotted the knife-wielding suspect and flagged down Police Officer Robert Garvey, who apprehended the stabbing suspect near the corner of 46th Street and 1st Avenue just before 11:30 a.m. Monday morning.
Kenny confirmed that two bloody knives were found in the suspect’s possession. The perpetrator also had blood covering his clothing.
While Adams railed against the state of the justice system he rallied around the NYPD response, personally thanking 19-year veteran Garvey for making the arrest.
“This officer put himself in harm’s way to stop others from being harmed,” Adams said. “This person conceivably would have continued these random attacks.”
