A man is facing murder charges after three people were fatally stabbed across New York City, authorities said on Tuesday. The suspect, 51-year-old Ramon Rivera, was arrested on Monday after police found him with bloodstains on his clothes and armed with two kitchen knives.
Rivera, who reportedly has serious mental health issues, pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. He’s being held without bail. Officials are calling this a serial killing.
Who were the victims?
Two of the victims have been identified. One was Angel Lata Landi, a 36-year-old construction worker from Peekskill, New York. The other was Wilma Augustin, also 36, from Manhattan. The third victim, a 67-year-old man, hasn’t been named yet because police are waiting to notify his family.
What happened?
The attacks happened on Monday morning over about 2 ½ hours across Manhattan. Mayor Eric Adams described them as “unprovoked attacks” during a news conference.
- First attack: Around 8:22 a.m., Lata Landi was stabbed multiple times in the stomach at a construction site on 19th Street.
- Second attack: Around 10:25 a.m., a 67-year-old man was fishing on 30th Street when he was stabbed in the stomach.
- Final attack: At 10:55 a.m., Rivera stabbed Wilma Augustin near the United Nations headquarters on 42nd Street. She was stabbed in the chest and arm.
Sadly, all three victims died from their injuries.
How was Rivera caught?
A taxi driver saw the third attack and thought it might be a robbery. The driver followed Rivera and called the police, helping them track him down. When police caught him, Rivera was wearing bloodstained clothes and still had the knives.
What do we know about Rivera?
Mayor Adams shared that Rivera appeared to be homeless and has a history of mental health issues. He’s been arrested eight times before, most recently in October for stealing. Adams said the case highlights problems in the criminal justice and mental health systems.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Adams said. “Why was he even out on the street?”
What’s next?
Rivera is in custody, and officials are continuing to investigate the case. Meanwhile, many New Yorkers are left asking how something like this could happen and what can be done to prevent similar tragedies.
Violent crime in New York City has seen a mix of increases and decreases. While assaults are up slightly this year, other crimes like murder and burglary have gone down, according to police. Nationwide, violent crime dropped by about 3% from 2022 to 2023, according to the FBI.
This tragic incident has raised tough questions and calls for change, especially when it comes to how mental health and public safety are handled in the city.
