Katie Suarez, a 28-year-old New Yorker who was stabbed while jogging in Brooklyn, has died, her family said Tuesday. Her death is adding to pressure on city and state leaders to explain how they plan to address attacks on women in public places.
Suarez died Monday after spending three days on life support, police said. An unidentified assailant approached her on Friday evening as she ran along the Shore Parkway Greenway and stabbed her in the neck, piercing an artery. Police said she suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to hospital.
Suarez was a keen runner who had taken part in events organized by New York Road Runners. She was on her way to meet her father when she was attacked. The organization said it was heartbroken by the news and offered its condolences to her family and the running community.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said the governor condemns violence and believes those responsible should face the full consequences of the law. The spokesperson also pointed to Hochul’s funding for law enforcement and changes to bail and discovery laws, saying public safety remains her top priority.
City Council Member Kayla Santosuosso, who represents southern Brooklyn, said she was horrified by the stabbing and that her thoughts were with Suarez’s family. Santosuosso said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch had assured her that officers were making every effort to find the attacker.
Santosuosso also noted that the promenade where the stabbing happened has been poorly lit for years. She said planned work on a nearby pedestrian bridge and the promenade should include adequate lighting. The recent attacks on women, she added, were deeply disturbing, and residents should be able to walk or jog in their neighborhoods without fearing for their safety.
Retired NYPD inspector Paul Mauro said better lighting would help, but argued that visible surveillance cameras should be added as well. The goal, he said, is for people to feel they are being observed. Mauro said improving lighting could also reflect the “broken windows” approach associated with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, which focused on addressing lower-level offenses to discourage more serious crime.
The stabbing comes amid other reported violence against women. Police said a 39-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in Central Park on Oct. 24, near Fifth Avenue. It was the fifth reported sexual assault in the park this year. No arrests have been made in either case.
Some critics say city leaders have not offered enough detail about steps to protect people in public spaces. They have contrasted that response with Hochul’s actions last month after an alleged gang rape at Cornell University. The governor appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor and directed State Police to take over sexual assault complaints on the campus.
James responded to the attack on Suarez in a post on X, calling it outrageous and unacceptable and saying no New Yorker should have to fear such violence. Her message, posted Monday, said she was praying for Suarez’s recovery and urged anyone with information to contact police. Suarez died the following day.
A spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani said attacks on women across the city were horrific and that everyone should be able to travel around New York without fear. The administration, the spokesperson said, would work with survivors, service providers and community groups to strengthen prevention, improve services and address gender-based violence.
Mauro criticized the lack of public discussion about increasing patrols, calling it a serious warning sign. He argued that effective policing is necessary to keep people safe. He also urged young women considering a move to New York to understand the risks, saying he believes city leadership has not made their safety a sufficient priority.
