Man Charged with Three Counts of Murder in Random Manhattan Stabbings

Man Charged with Murder in Manhattan Stabbings

A man named Ramon Rivera, 51, faces three counts of first-degree murder. This follows the fatal stabbings of three individuals in Manhattan on a Monday morning.

Police arrested Rivera after they found him with blood on his clothes and two kitchen knives. The attacks occurred over a span of two and a half hours without any provocation.

Mayor Eric Adams spoke about the incidents, expressing concern over the violence in New York. The police stated that there were no words exchanged or property taken during the assaults. The victims were attacked without warning.

The first victim, Angel Lata Landi, 36, was a construction worker killed near his site by the Hudson River just before 8:30 a.m. The second victim was a 68-year-old man fishing in the East River. Both men died shortly after the attacks.

The third victim, a 36-year-old woman named Wilma Augustin, was stabbed multiple times near the United Nations headquarters around 10:55 a.m. She also succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

A cab driver witnessed the third attack and alerted the police, leading to Rivera’s quick apprehension.

Rivera appeared in court on Tuesday. The Legal Aid Society is representing him but declined to comment on the case.

This violent incident raises concerns about crime in New York City. Although killings have declined by 14% over the past two years, serious assaults have increased by about 12%.

Mayor Adams highlighted this violence as a sign of failures within the criminal justice system. Rivera, reportedly homeless, had previous criminal charges.

The recent attacks echo historical violence in public places, reminding many of prior deadly stabbings in the city.