Two men were stabbed on Manhattan's Upper West Side Thursday afternoon, and police arrested a suspect in connection with both attacks, according to the NYPD. Detectives are evaluating whether the attacks constitute a hate crime, authorities said.
Police identified the suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said no other suspects are being sought. Attorney information for Morales was not immediately available. Charges were still pending as of Friday morning.
According to police, the incident began near West 84th Street and Central Park West shortly after 1:30 p.m., where a 57-year-old man was stabbed in the back with a knife. EMS transported him to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in stable condition.
An NYPD spokesperson said a second victim, a 50-year-old man, was found two blocks north at West 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue with a puncture wound to the torso that police said was caused by a screwdriver. EMS also transported him to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in stable condition.
Tisch said one victim is Asian and the other is Jewish. She also said victim and witness statements indicated Morales yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both attacks.
A 50-year-old man was hospitalized after the attack, and NYPD arrested a 51-year-old suspect in connection with the incident.
Police said Morales barricaded himself inside a NYCHA apartment building at Amsterdam Avenue and West 88th Street before being apprehended by the NYPD Emergency Service Unit after a brief standoff.
“I want to commend the bravery of a good Samaritan who led our officers to the location where the perpetrator was hiding, as well as our NYPD cops who brought an end to the incident without further injuries,” Tisch said.
Tisch also said there is no known connection between Morales and either victim or between the victims. She said the department has no known mental health history involving Morales, but the initial investigation suggests mental health may have been a factor.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the attacks in a post on social media.
"These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” he said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and several local elected officials also condemned the attacks on social media.
Ashley Phillips, who lives two blocks from where the attacks took place, said she was surprised by the violence in a neighborhood she considers safe.
"I chose this area because it was supposed to be safe for me, which I do generally feel safe, so that's actually surprising to hear and quite concerning," Phillips said.
This story has been updated with new information.
