Man charged with murder after fatal stabbing in New York City

A man was charged with murder 3 people stabbed to death across New York City, officials said Tuesday.

The suspect, who authorities said had “serious mental health issues,” was taken into custody Monday after he was found with blood on his clothes. armed with two kitchen knives. New York police later identified the suspect as 51-year-old Ramon Rivera.

Court records show he pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, which is classified as serial murder. He is being held without bail.

Two of the victims killed in the attacks were identified as Angel Lata Landi, 36, a construction worker in Peekskill, New York; and Wilma Augustin, 36, of Manhattan. Police said the third victim was a 67-year-old man but did not release his name because his family had not yet been notified of his death.

At a news conference Monday, Mayor Eric Adams said the stabbings amounted to “unprovoked attacks.”

“Today, three innocent New Yorkers who were victims of a horrific, horrific attack are living their lives,” Adams said. he said while standing next to police leaders.

Accordingly NYPD data, Serious assaults are up nearly 5% since this time last year. But other violent crimes, such as murder, burglary and grand larceny, are down, according to police data.

nationwide, violent crimes decreased by an estimated 3% from 2022 to 2023, according to the FBI.

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3 killed in knife attack in Manhattan

The attack, which lasted about 2.5 hours in Manhattan, left police “looking for answers as to how something like this could happen,” Adams said.

The first attack was reported at 8:22 a.m. Monday on 19th Street, when police said Rivera stabbed Lata Landi multiple times in the stomach at a construction site.

The second attack took place approximately two hours later at 10:25 on 30th Street. An unidentified 67-year-old man was stabbed multiple times in the stomach in a similar manner while fishing.

Both the man and Lata Landi were taken to the same hospital and died from their injuries a short time later.

Rivera is suspected of carrying out his last attack at 10:55 a.m., this time on a woman at the intersection of 42nd Street and 1st Avenue at the United Nations headquarters. Augustin, who was stabbed in the chest and left arm, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment but later died.

“He walked up to them and started attacking them with knives,” New York police Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said at the news conference. “No words were exchanged. No property was taken.”

A taxi driver who witnessed the third attack and believed it was a robbery followed the knife-wielding man and notified police, Kenny said. When the man, identified as Rivera, was taken into custody, police said he was wearing bloody clothing and armed with knives.

When reached by USA TODAY on Tuesday, Legal Aid Society, the New York-based nonprofit legal services provider that represents Rivera, declined to comment on the case.

NYC mayor: Suspect ‘has serious mental health issues’

While Adams said authorities were still reviewing Rivera’s criminal record, he said there was “a real question as to why he was on the street.”

Rivera, who police say appears to be homeless, has been arrested eight times before, most recently in October for grand larceny. Adams also added that he has “serious mental health issues.”

“This is a clear example of the criminal justice system and mental health system that continues to fail New Yorkers,” Adams said.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Contributed by Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Stabbing spree in New York: Man charged with murder after attacks