NYC stabbing spree suspect charged with attempted murder after wounding at least 5, NYPD says

NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD commissioner are praising contributors of town’s police drive for briefly nabbing a suspected serial stabber. 

The suspect is accused of attacking 5 other people, and is being related to a conceivable 6th case. 

Top police brass additionally reiterated Wednesday simply how random each and every stabbing used to be, announcing no two sufferers proportion a commonality. 

Wearing a white Tyvek jumpsuit, 27-year-old Jermain Rigueur remained silent as he walked out of the 113th police precinct Thursday afternoon and used to be transported to court docket for arraignment on more than one counts of attempted murder.

Authorities allege he is the person who went on a random stabbing spree, most commonly in Queens, injuring at least 4 other people in 9 days, and likewise linking him to a stabbing in Brooklyn Wednesday morning. 

“Thank God we have no one who lost his or her life, but it did send real fears throughout our city,” Adams mentioned. “Didn’t appear as if he was looking to stop anytime soon.” 

Detectives mentioned Riguer simply moved to Queens from Suffolk County, Long Island, and used to be residing with roommates inside of a Springfield Gardens house. 

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban mentioned police had been ready to trace him down after a tip got here in to them when they issued a citywide manhunt and launched pictures of the suspect retaining a knife. 

“We are pleased to say this particular threat has ended. A violent criminal is off the streets because of good old-fashioned police work,” Caban mentioned.

Authorities credited just about 1,000 interviews and interactions police had with witnesses and New Yorkers. The police tip line additionally helped. 

“We’re standing here as the executive of the city and the leaders of the police department, but the real credit goes out to the men and women knocking on doors, probably 1,000 interviews and interactions with New Yorkers, tip hotlines from New Yorkers who saw the photos that went out to assist us,” Adams mentioned. 

“Ultimately, it came down to basic detective work — chasing down leads, knocking on doors. It was about walking through neighborhoods and talking to people, interviewing witnesses, and canvassing video,” Caban mentioned. “And through it all, remain focused on one thing: ending this threat.”

CBS News legislation enforcement contributor Richard Esposito says the NYPD acted briefly.

“They established the victims didn’t know each other. They established there was no robbery. So they knew they had someone who was, in essence, a serial stabber on their hands,” he mentioned.

A lady named Michelle mentioned police got here to her house. She lives a couple of homes clear of the suspect. 

“The 113[th precinct] did a great job. They had their people out here, knocking on doors, asking the questions they needed to ask,” she mentioned. 

“It’s, like, 20 feet away,” neighbor Dave Alexander mentioned. “Not in your wildest dreams do you think something like this would happen.” 

Police mentioned Rigueur has no prior arrests or historical past of psychological well being problems, including he labored at Woodhull Hospital as a affected person greeter. He used to be noticed in surveillance pictures dressed in his health center ID with a lanyard connected to it. 

Dr. Mitch Katz, NYC Health + Hospitals CEO, mentioned the suspect handed a background test, including that he’s now on administrative depart. 

“He completed a background check, and as you heard from the police chief, he had no priors. So even though we do fingerprinting, his record was clear. He passed the background check,” Katz mentioned. “He has only worked for us since mid-November. He never worked independently at Woodhull. He was still 100% being observed as part of his orientation. His job was greeting patients as they came in and directing them to the appropriate place.”One sufferer advised CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge over the telephone that Rigueur mentioned not anything earlier than stabbing him. Police mentioned they nonetheless have no idea why he sought after to purpose this chaos. 

“If you look at these victims, they range from members of the African-American community, members of the Hispanic community, men and women. So we don’t think he was targeting anyone specifically,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned. 

Police additionally mentioned Rigueur indicated he had a weapon, a looking knife, in his backpack, however they have not noticed it but, since they’re nonetheless ready on a seek warrant. 

“It’s scary. I didn’t know that he was … I thought he was maybe down farther. I didn’t know he was right in our area,” one neighbor mentioned. “I’m so happy that they caught him.”

Investigators mentioned the primary assault came about on Jan. 8, when a 61-year-old used to be stabbed within the decrease again on 137th Avenue close to 157th Street.

“In this incident, the suspect actually laughed in the victim’s face after he stabbed him,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny mentioned Wednesday. 

Then on Tuesday, a 34-year-old lady used to be getting off a bus at Guy Brewer Boulevard and 134th Avenue when she mentioned a person talking gibberish approached her. 

At that very same location Wednesday morning, police mentioned a 74-year-old guy taking his spouse to paintings used to be stabbed within the again. 

Police mentioned the suspect went directly to stab two different sufferers inside the similar hour. First, a 41-year-old across the nook on 161st Street, after which a 36-year-old guy who were given into a controversy with the suspect over a seat on an MTA bus close to Archer and Parsons.

“I saw him coming, and he saw me, too, when I passed him. I looked him in the face, and I passed him. And when I passed him, then he stabbed me,” the 41-year-old sufferer, Amara Kourouma, advised CBS New York’s Natalie Duddridge. 

All 5 sufferers are anticipated to live to tell the tale.

The spouse of one of the vital sufferers, a 71-year-old guy, advised CBS New York her husband is getting better after present process surgical operation Thursday.

Investigators consider the suspect may be related to a 6th stabbing Wednesday at the J educate in Brooklyn, however fees have not begun to be filed if that’s the case.