A shocking stabbing spree across Manhattan on Monday morning left three people dead in unprovoked attacks. Ramon Rivera, 51, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder following the rampage that has stunned the city.
Rivera was apprehended shortly after the third attack, wearing blood-stained clothing and carrying two kitchen knives. He awaits arraignment, and authorities are investigating his motives. A message seeking comment from an attorney who represented him in a prior case went unanswered.
“Three New Yorkers lost their lives in unprovoked, senseless attacks that have left us searching for answers,” said Mayor Eric Adams during a press conference.
A Morning of Tragedy Across Manhattan
The rampage unfolded over the course of 2 ½ hours, beginning around 8:30 a.m. The first victim, 36-year-old construction worker Angel Lata Landi, was stabbed near his worksite along the Hudson River on West 19th Street. Two hours later, a 68-year-old man was attacked while fishing near the East River at East 30th Street. Both men died shortly after being stabbed.
The third and final attack occurred at 10:55 a.m. near the United Nations headquarters on East 42nd Street, where 36-year-old Wilma Augustin was stabbed multiple times. She succumbed to her injuries later in the day at a hospital.
Rivera was arrested shortly after the third attack when a cabdriver who witnessed the stabbing alerted nearby police officers.
Authorities Describe Brutality of Attacks
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the attacks as entirely unprovoked. “No words were exchanged. No property was taken. He simply walked up to these individuals and began attacking them,” he said.
Police are continuing to investigate the suspect’s background. Rivera is reportedly homeless and has a recent criminal history, including an arrest for grand larceny last month.
A City Mourns and Seeks Justice
The deadly rampage has left a community grieving and demanding answers. Authorities are working to understand what drove Rivera to commit these acts of violence while pledging to hold him accountable.
