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Homeless man held without bail in fatal stabbing in New York

Harry November 20, 2024

NEW YORK (PIX11) — A homeless man with an extensive criminal record has been charged with going on a bloody rampage during a deadly stabbing spree in Manhattan on Monday, prosecutors said.

Ramon Rivera, 51, was arraigned Tuesday on three murder charges. stabbed three people The victims were killed in a series of unprovoked attacks in Manhattan, authorities said.

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According to the criminal complaint, Rivera, who confessed to the murders while being detained, is being held without bail.

RiveraWearing a white sweater, he did not speak during the brief hearing, which was also attended by some of the victims’ family members.

“The defendant went on a bloody and violent rampage that cost the lives of three innocent New Yorkers who were doing nothing but going about their days,” said prosecutor Megan Joy.

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Rivera allegedly stabbed 36-year-old construction worker Angel Lata Landi at 19th Street and 10th Avenue in Chelsea at 8:20 a.m. Monday, according to authorities. Surveillance video showed a terrified woman who witnessed the fatal stabbing pushing the baby in a stroller to safety.

Police said the defendant then stabbed 67-year-old Chang Wang to death two hours later while he was fishing along the East River. Rivera is also accused of stabbing Wilma Augustin, 36 years old near the United Nations Headquarters just before 11 a.m., according to officials. he died Sources said he died after surgery.

Prosecutors said a witness heard the woman yelling “Help” before seeing the defendant running away. After the last attack, a taxi driver followed the suspect and flagged down police officers for help.

Video obtained by PIX11 News shows Rivera changing his clothing, putting on gloves and pulling a kitchen knife from his small purple backpack. After Rivera was arrested, two knives were seized.

Rivera has a history of mental health issues and an extensive criminal history spanning multiple states, but he has never spent more than a year in jail, according to authorities. He was living in a homeless shelter near NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.

In December 2023, Rivera was arrested on two counts of theft, making him ineligible for bail, and was released after probation. He was later arrested in New Jersey on similar charges and brought back to New York on new charges before the arrest in December, sources said.

Sources said the man was being held on bail and attacked a corrections officer in the Bellevue prison ward while in custody. The officer was also arrested for trying to attack Rivera.

He was at Rikers from Feb. 19 to Oct. 17, 2024, on charges of third-degree burglary and third-degree assault.

Rivera pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2024 and was sentenced to 364 days in prison, but was released after serving eight months. Sources said he was released on Oct. 17 because of the DOC’s practice of releasing defendants after they serve two-thirds of their city sentence.

According to sources, Rivera has never been detained or involuntarily detained for a mental health issue in the past several years. The stabbing spree raises questions about Mayor Eric Adams’ mental health problem in New York City.

“We have a real problem that we need to be honest about, and I’m willing to be honest about it,” Adams said.

Adams said he is now more committed than ever to a plan to deal with homeless people experiencing apparent mental health crises on the streets and subways and to involuntarily remove them if necessary. He wants the state to give him more power and clarity when it comes to these dismissals.

“We must take those who cannot fend for themselves off our streets and give them the humane attention they deserve,” Adams said.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has been covering news and sports in the New York area for more than a decade. He has been working at PIX11 News for two years. See more of his work Here.

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