3 Dead In Manhattan Stabbings; Suspect Charged, NYPD Says

MIDTOWN, NY – Three people were stabbed to death in Manhattan on Monday morning in a series of incidents that have been connected to a single suspect, officials said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

"Today we have three innocent New Yorkers, [just] going about their lives, who were victims of a terrible, terrible assault," said Mayor Eric Adams.

All three victims have now died as a result of their injuries, officials confirmed on Monday evening.

The suspect, Ramon Rivera, is in custody and was charged three counts of murder in the first degree on Monday evening, according to the NYPD.

Rivera was apprehended by a 19-year NYPD veteran, Officer Robert F. Garvey, who stood with leadership at Monday's presser and whose courage Adams praised.

At this time, no other individuals are being sought in connection with the attacks, officials emphasized.

Chelsea

At about 8:20 a.m, a 36-year-old man, Angel Lata Landi of Peekskill, New York, was standing in front of the construction site where he worked at 444 West 19th Street when, "without warning," he was stabbed in the stomach, recounted NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.

Landi was in critical condition when cops arrived, and although he was transported to Bellevue Hospital, emergency responders were unable to save him and he died at 8:50 a.m.

Witnesses at the scene described the suspect, Rivera, as a light-skinned man in his 60s with a beard, wearing a grey shirt and a ski hat – and carrying a kitchen knife.

The address police provided corresponds to the Chelsea Club, a residential apartment building near 10th Avenue.

East 30th Street

Officials believe the suspect then walked across town to the East Side. "We have video of him [walking] with the knives out," Kenny said.

A second unprovoked stabbing, on the East River near 500 East 30th Street, happened at about 10:30 a.m., according to authorities.

A 67-year-old Chinatown resident, Chang Wang, was fishing when he was stabbed multiple times throughout his body, Kenny said. Although Wang was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, emergency responders weren't able to save him.

Tudor City

A third unprovoked stabbing, at East 42nd Street and 1st Avenue near the United Nations, happened at about 10:55 a.m.

A 36-year-old woman, Wilma Augustin of Midtown Manhattan, was stabbed multiple times throughout her body, Kenny said. Augustin was hospitalized in critical condition at Weill Cornell Medical Center but later succumbed to her injuries, officials confirmed on Wednesday night.

"As of right now, [all of] these attacks seem to be unprovoked," Kenny said.

Suspect In Custody

A taxi driver saw the third attack and thought it was a robbery, Kenny explained. The driver followed Rivera and alerted police, and Officer Garvey arrested him near 46th Street and 1st Avenue, not long after the third incident.

"[Police] recovered two large kitchen knives covered in blood" at the scene, Kenny said. "[The suspect's] clothing [was] also covered in blood."

These were the knives that were recovered at today’s stabbing in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/31hzHaIBao
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 18, 2024

'8 Prior Arrests'

It's not the first time that Rivera, a 51-year-old homeless man, has been in contact with the criminal justice system.

"[He has] 8 prior arrests, the last being for grand larceny in October of this year," Kenny said.

Asked why the suspect wasn't behind bars, Mayor Adams said that "there's a real question on why he was on the street...he has some severe mental health issues that should've been examined."

Rivera was reportedly a resident of the Bellevue Men's Shelter on East 30th Street in Kips Bay.

The investigation remains ongoing. A recording of Monday's press conference is below.

WATCH LIVE: Join me and Interim @NYPDPC Donlon at the 17th Precinct as we provide updates on several investigations in Manhattan. https://t.co/YJKwCT8oGT
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 18, 2024

This is a breaking news story and it was last updated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.