The third victim of the knife-wielding maniac whose stabbing in broad daylight on Monday left a trail of blood across Manhattan has died from his injuries after he confessed to the random killings and was charged with murder, police and sources say. The source announced.
Wilma Augustin, 36, the third and final victim of Ramon Rivera, 51, died of her injuries Monday night at a hospital, police said.
Rivera, a homeless man with an extensive criminal history and reportedly suffering from mental illness, confessed to the unprovoked stabbings that began in the morning and spanned the width of the borough from Chelsea to the East River. sources told the Post.
A 36-year-old male construction worker who was waiting to be picked up from work and a 67-year-old man who was fishing in the East River were also stabbed to death separately by the same suspect across Manhattan, police said.
Rivera, who was released from Rikers a month ago and was living at a Bellevue men's shelter, was charged with three counts of murder, police announced shortly after 9 p.m.
As he was taken from Manhattan's 10th Precinct Monday night in a white jumpsuit, handcuffs and ankle shackles, he walked with his head bowed and did not answer reporters' questions. The murder suspect sat in the back seat of an unmarked police car and stared coldly at the crowd of reporters and onlookers.
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Law enforcement officials said the killing was random and unfounded.
“At this point, these attacks appear to be unfounded. He just walked up to them and started attacking them with the knife,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said at a morning news conference. .
His chilling, murderous act began around 8:20 a.m. in front of 444 West 19th Street in Chelsea, when he walked up to Peekskill construction worker Angel Lata Lundy and stabbed her in the stomach with a knife. Police said it started with a stabbing and running away. Said.
About two hours later, Rivera reappeared near FDR Drive in the 500 block of East 30th Street, where he allegedly attacked a fisherman, police said.
He fled north toward East 42nd Street and 1st Avenue, and about 30 minutes later stabbed Augustine in the shadow of the United Nations building as frightened bystanders rushed to help. be done.
Randy and the victim, 67, were rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where they were both pronounced dead. Augustine was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was also pronounced dead.
The identity of the oldest victim was not released by police pending notification of family members.
Several good Samaritans helped police arrest a violent lunatic. A British tourist and a United Nations diplomatic security guard helped track down the suspect, and a taxi driver followed and modified a nearby NYPD officer, Robert Garvey, who eventually handcuffed Mr. Rivera. Prevented further senseless stabbings.
“If Officer Garvey hadn't been there, this random act of violence, this person probably would have continued that random act of violence,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference. “So he saved a fellow New Yorker's life.”
Police recovered two bloody knives believed to have been used by Rivera.
The murder suspect had been arrested on charges of robbery, assault and grand larceny in the past year and had two mental health episodes that police responded to, officials said.
Adams said it's unclear why Rivera was back on the street.
“There are some real questions to consider as to why he was on the street and he has severe mental health issues that should be examined and that's what we're looking to find in the investigation. “It's something,” the mayor said. .
Additional reporting by Dorian Geiger
