New York City reminded everyone on Thursday that it remains the place where you can just be minding your own business and suddenly find yourself in a nightmare. Two men were stabbed in separate, unprovoked attacks on Manhattan's Upper West Side by a suspect who allegedly screamed "Allahu Akbar" during both incidents, as Trending Politics reported.
The stabbings happened shortly after 1:30 in the afternoon, because apparently broad daylight is no longer a deterrent for anything. The first victim, a 57 year old Asian man, got stabbed once in the back near West 84th Street and Central Park West. The second victim, a 50 year old Jewish man who was wearing a kippah, took a wound to the chest near West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. One attack reportedly involved a knife and the other a screwdriver, because when you are on a rampage, apparently you just grab whatever is handy.
The suspect has been identified as 51 year old Raul Morales, whose criminal resume includes drug charges dating all the way back to 1991. Morales had zero connection to either of his victims, and the two victims had no connection to each other. He allegedly acted completely alone, which is the one silver lining in this horror show.
Here is where a hero enters the story. A brave bystander spotted Morales and pointed cops toward an apartment building on Amsterdam Avenue where the suspect was hiding. After the NYPD Emergency Service Unit conducted negotiations, Morales was taken into custody around 2:45 p.m. without any additional injuries.
Both victims were conscious and alert when first responders arrived, were rushed to a nearby hospital, and remain in stable condition. They are expected to survive, which is genuinely the best news in this entire mess.
The attacks took place on Tisha B'Av, a significant Jewish fast day, and one victim was near a synagogue when he was attacked. Detectives are now evaluating whether these stabbings qualify as a hate crime. Investigators also noted that mental health could have played a role, though Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Morales has no prior mental health history with the department.
Tisch commended the Good Samaritan who helped officers locate Morales and praised the cops who ended the situation without further harm. Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement condemning the attacks and offering support to the Jewish community.
The investigation continues as detectives sift through evidence and witness statements to figure out what charges to throw at this guy. At minimum, it seems like the justice system will have plenty of material to work with.
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