NYC stabbing spree: 2 dead, 1 injured in random attacks
NEW YORK - A person is in custody after a series of random stabbing attacks throughout Manhattan left two men dead and a woman critically injured Monday morning, police said.
The alleged attacker, a 51-year-old Hispanic man who appeared to be homeless, was arrested near the U.N. when an officer heard a commotion and found him covered in blood.
"Three New Yorkers. Unprovoked attacks that left us searching for answers on how something like this could happen," NYC Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference. He called the violence "a clear, clear example" of failures in the criminal justice system and elsewhere.
The attacks happened within 2 1/2 hours, said Joseph Kenny, police chief of detectives.
The first attack unfolded around 8:20 a.m. at 444 West 19th Street in Chelsea, where a 36-year-old Hispanic construction worker was randomly stabbed in the abdomen and killed, Kenny said.
Police scene near East 30th Street
About two hours later, the attacker approached an Asian man fishing on the East River Prominade near East 30th Street and FDR Drive. The victim was stabbed multiple times and later died.
Then, 30 minutes later and about 12 blocks away, a 36-year-old Black woman was stabbed multiple times at East 42nd Street and 1st Avenue near the U.N. Police said she was in critical condition.
"No words exchanged, no property taken, just attacked and stabbed viciously," Kenny said during the press conference.
A passing cab driver saw the third attack and alerted a police officer, officials said.
The attacker, who police did not name, was found with two large kitchen knives covered in blood. He has eight prior arrests, the last being for grand larceny in October 2024, police said.
Police are not looking for any other perpetrators at this time.
The victims' names were not released pending family notification.
This story is developing. Stay with FOX 5 NY for updates.