UWS stabbing: NYPD says suspect in custody after 2 men stabbed on Upper West Side of NYC - ABC7 New York

What the report says

WABC-TV reported that New York City police arrested a suspect after two men were stabbed Thursday afternoon on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, near Central Park. According to the station, the first attack happened around 1:30 p.m. at West 84th Street and Central Park West, where a 57-year-old Asian man was stabbed in the torso. A second victim, described as a 50-year-old Jewish man, was stabbed near 86th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, close to a church and a synagogue.

Both men were taken to Mt. Sinai-St. Luke’s Hospital. WABC reported that one victim was first listed in critical condition, but NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch later said both were expected to survive. Police identified the arrested suspect as 51-year-old Raul Morales and said he was taken into custody at an apartment building on Amsterdam Avenue between 88th and 89th streets. Officials said they were not searching for anyone else.

The NYPD is examining whether the attacks could be hate crimes, based on victim and witness accounts. Tisch said detectives were still working to establish a motive and that there was no known connection between Morales and either victim, or between the victims themselves. WABC reported police believe a blade and a screwdriver were used, and that Morales had not yet been charged at the time of the report.

The attacks drew responses from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, City Council Speaker Julie Menin and the UJA-Federation of New York. The incident occurred on a Jewish day of mourning, adding to concern in the surrounding community as police continue their investigation.