The mother of a construction worker killed in a random attack by a knife-wielding maniac in Manhattan broke down in tears as family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil at the exact spot where he was killed.
On Monday, Angel Gustavo Latarandi, 36, was standing outside his Chelsea workshop when homeless lunatic Ramon Rivera, 51, punched him in the stomach during a shocking daytime assault. He allegedly stabbed and killed two other innocent bystanders.
Heartbroken mother Mercedes Lundy said she spoke to her son the night before he was killed. Now, he is tasked with bringing his son's body back to the Ecuadorian city he left 20 years ago for a funeral.
“Words can't describe how I feel,” an emotional Randy said through an interpreter as he arrived on the West Side street where his son was stabbed to death.
Randi, who traveled to the Big Apple from Ecuador, gathered in the rain Friday night with a tearful crowd at 444 West 19th Street.
More than a dozen loved ones commemorated Lata-Landhi's life by creating a small memorial of flowers, candles and photographs, and leaving behind Lata-Landhi's white helmet.
“He was acting like I was his son,” his 9-year-old nephew Alan Ochoa told the Post.
“He lived in the Bronx and he would come over and cook sometimes. I wish he had come back alive.”
Lata Lundy was killed around 8:20 a.m. in a shocking stabbing allegedly carried out by Rivera, a homeless man with a long criminal history and proven mental health issues. He was the first victim. Just last month, a non-bailable crime was discovered.
Police said the deranged stabbing man drove from the West Side to the East River waterline, where he fatally stabbed Zhang Wang, 67, while he was fishing just before 10:30 a.m.
The third and final victim, 36-year-old Wilma Augustin, was stabbed to death about 30 minutes later near the United Nations building. She was a single mother of an 8-year-old boy.
Rivera told police he targeted the victim because he was “alone” and “distracted,” and was arrested shortly after the final stabbing, where two knives were recovered, according to court documents.
Walter Cinche, executive director of the International Alliance of Ecuador, who spoke on behalf of the Lundy family, said New York City's lax bail reform laws have allowed violent and mentally ill criminals to roam the streets. In response, the Lundy family is considering taking legal action against the city.
“All they want at this point is justice,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the system failed. He was dangerous. Why did they let him out?”
