NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD commissioner are praising members of the town’s police power for rapidly nabbing a suspected serial stabber.
The suspect is accused of attacking 5 folks, and is being linked to a doable sixth case.
High police brass additionally reiterated Wednesday simply how random every stabbing was, saying no two victims share a commonality.
Carrying a white Tyvek jumpsuit, 27-year-old Jermain Rigueur remained silent as he walked out of the 113th police precinct Thursday afternoon and was transported to court docket for arraignment on a number of counts of tried homicide.
Authorities allege he is the person who went on a random stabbing spree, largely in Queens, injuring no less than 4 folks in 9 days, and in addition linking him to a stabbing in Brooklyn Wednesday morning.
“Thank God now we have nobody who misplaced his or her life, nevertheless it did ship actual fears all through our metropolis,” Adams mentioned. “Did not seem as if he was trying to cease anytime quickly.”
Detectives mentioned Riguer simply moved to Queens from Suffolk County, Lengthy Island, and was dwelling with roommates inside a Springfield Gardens house.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban mentioned police had been in a position to observe him down after a tip got here in to them as soon as they issued a citywide manhunt and launched images of the suspect holding a knife.
“We’re happy to say this specific risk has ended. A violent felony is off the streets due to good old school police work,” Caban mentioned.
Authorities credited almost 1,000 interviews and interactions police had with witnesses and New Yorkers. The police tip line additionally helped.
“We’re standing right here as the manager of the town and the leaders of the police division, however the true credit score goes out to the women and men knocking on doorways, most likely 1,000 interviews and interactions with New Yorkers, tip hotlines from New Yorkers who noticed the images that went out to help us,” Adams mentioned.
“In the end, it got here right down to primary detective work — chasing down leads, knocking on doorways. It was about strolling by way of neighborhoods and speaking to folks, interviewing witnesses, and canvassing video,” Caban mentioned. “And thru all of it, stay targeted on one factor: ending this risk.”
CBS Information regulation enforcement contributor Richard Esposito says the NYPD acted rapidly.
“They established the victims did not know one another. They established there was no theft. So that they knew that they had somebody who was, in essence, a serial stabber on their arms,” he mentioned.
A lady named Michelle mentioned police got here to her house. She lives a number of homes away from the suspect.
“The 113[th precinct] did a fantastic job. That they had their folks out right here, knocking on doorways, asking the questions they wanted to ask,” she mentioned.
“It is, like, 20 ft away,” neighbor Dave Alexander mentioned. “Not in your wildest desires do you assume one thing like this could occur.”
Police mentioned Rigueur has no prior arrests or historical past of psychological well being points, including he labored at Woodhull Hospital as a affected person greeter. He was seen in surveillance pictures sporting his hospital ID with a lanyard connected to it.
Dr. Mitch Katz, NYC Well being + Hospitals CEO, mentioned the suspect handed a background examine, including that he’s now on administrative go away.
“He accomplished a background examine, and as you heard from the police chief, he had no priors. So regardless that we do fingerprinting, his report was clear. He handed the background examine,” Katz mentioned. “He has solely labored for us since mid-November. He by no means labored independently at Woodhull. He was nonetheless 100% being noticed as a part of his orientation. His job was greeting sufferers as they got here in and directing them to the suitable place.”One sufferer instructed CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge over the telephone that Rigueur mentioned nothing earlier than stabbing him. Police mentioned they nonetheless do not know why he needed to trigger this chaos.
“In the event you take a look at these victims, they vary from members of the African-American group, members of the Hispanic group, women and men. So we do not assume he was focusing on anybody particularly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned.
Police additionally mentioned Rigueur indicated he had a weapon, a searching knife, in his backpack, however they have not seen it but, since they’re nonetheless ready on a search warrant.
“It is scary. I did not know that he was … I assumed he was perhaps down farther. I did not know he was proper in our space,” one neighbor mentioned. “I am so blissful that they caught him.”
Investigators mentioned the primary assault occurred on Jan. 8, when a 61-year-old was stabbed within the decrease again on 137th Avenue close to 157th Road.
“On this incident, the suspect truly laughed within the sufferer’s face after he stabbed him,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny mentioned Wednesday.
Then on Tuesday, a 34-year-old girl was getting off a bus at Man 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 man taking his spouse to work was stabbed within the again.
Police mentioned the suspect went on to stab two different victims throughout the identical hour. First, a 41-year-old across the nook on 161st Road, after which a 36-year-old man who received into an argument with the suspect over a seat on an MTA bus close to Archer and Parsons.
“I noticed him coming, and he noticed me, too, after I handed him. I appeared him within the face, and I handed him. And after I handed him, then he stabbed me,” the 41-year-old sufferer, Amara Kourouma, instructed CBS New York’s Natalie Duddridge.
All 5 victims are anticipated to outlive.
The spouse of one of many victims, a 71-year-old man, instructed CBS New York her husband is recovering after present process surgical procedure Thursday.
Investigators consider the suspect can be linked to a sixth stabbing Wednesday on the J practice in Brooklyn, however prices have but to be filed in that case.