Statement on Recent Stabbings and an Update From the NYPD 26th Precinct

In light of the horrific stabbings including the murder of a Columbia student in the vicinity of the park I thought it important to share this update we received from the NYPD 26th Precinct. Our park community is devastated by these attacks which occurred so close to the second anniversary of the murder of Tess Majors. We grieve with all who have suffered and lost loved ones to this unspeakable violence.

As we mourn, we further stiffen our resolve to do all we can to uplift our park and to press for resources and programs that uplift our entire community.

As we receive additional updates we will share them here.

In grief and solidarity,

Brad Taylor

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Homicide and Felony Assault near Morningside Park

Dear Community Partners,

On Thursday December 2nd, 2021, at approximately 10:50 pm, a radio call was transmitted in regards to a male stabbed near West 123rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. A preliminary investigation revealed that the stabbing may have occurred on West 123 Street between Morningside Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue. It is unknown at this time, whether the stabbing occurred within Morningside Park or along the park edge outside of the park. The victim in this incident sustained a stab wound to the abdomen and was pronounced deceased at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital at approximately 01:30 am. Shortly after the first victim's stabbing, officers responded to a second stabbing at approximately 11:08 pm near West 110th Street and Columbus Avenue. An investigation of that second stabbing incident revealed that the victim was stabbed in the abdomen and the back somewhere between Morningside Drive and Manhattan Avenue along the park edge near West 110th Street. Shortly after the second stabbing, a third victim flagged down officers, who were conducting a canvass for the perpetrator, and reported that he was menaced by a man with a knife along the West Drive of Central Park near West 110th Street. The suspect of this menacing incident matched the description given by eyewitnesses, and was positively identified by the second stabbing victim as the perpetrator responsible for stabbing him near West 110th Street and he was arrested. In response to these incidents, the Commanding Officer of the 26 Precinct, Deputy Inspector Alexandra Sarubbi, will have uniformed police officers specifically assigned to patrol Morningside Park and its perimeter between 7:00 pm and 3:30 am. Furthermore, as in the past, uniformed officers will continue to conduct directed patrols within Morningside Park throughout the day. Additionally, the commanding officer will continue to confer with NYC Park officials to coordinate coverage with Park Enforcement Patrols for Morningside Park. Detective Jason Harper 26 Precinct Community Affairs 520 West 126th Street, Room 104 New York, N.Y. 10027 Office: (212) 678-1301 Fax: (212) 678-1256 E-mail: Jason.Harper@nypd.org Follow us on Twitter @NYPD26Pct & on Facebook at NYPD26Pct