NYPD investigates double stabbing near Central Park as possible hate crime; suspect yelled 'Allahu Akbar'

What happened

On Thursday afternoon, a man stabbed two people in broad daylight on Manhattan's Upper West Side, near Central Park. The attacks began around 1:30 p.m. on West 84th Street and Central Park West, where the assailant approached Chok Sung, 57, and stabbed him in the back with a knife, according to a law enforcement official. The attacker then walked two blocks north to West 86th Street and stabbed Yezhak Grunhaus, 50, in the torso with a screwdriver, the official said. Witnesses told the NYPD that the suspect yelled "Allahu Akbar" before both attacks. Police officers responding to a 911 call found Sung conscious with a torso wound, then discovered Grunhaus two blocks away. Both men were taken by emergency medical workers to Mount Sinai's Morningside location.

Victims and suspect

The victims are expected to survive. Sung is Asian; Grunhaus is Jewish. The Guardian noted that despite initial reports suggesting both men were Jewish, the Asian victim was not, citing the Times of Israel. The suspect, Raul Morales, 51, walked back to his apartment after the stabbings. A witness followed him and directed officers to the building, leading to his arrest. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch commended the "bravery of a good Samaritan who led our officers to the location where the perpetrator was hiding." Morales remained in custody Thursday evening, and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

Investigation and motive

The NYPD is investigating the stabbings as possible hate crimes. Tisch said the department was working to determine a motive. She noted that while Morales has no known mental health history with the NYPD, the initial investigation suggests mental health may have been a factor. There was no known link between Morales and either victim, nor between the victims themselves.

While the perpetrator has no known mental health history with the NYPD, the initial investigation suggests that mental health may have been a factor. At this time there is no known link between Morales and either of the victims, nor between the victims and each other.

## Reactions New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the attacks "horrifying" and said he was relieved both victims were in stable condition.

These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city.

Governor Kathy Hochul expressed disgust and emphasized that New York stands with its Jewish and Asian communities.

Asian New Yorkers, like Jewish New Yorkers, have endured waves of hate-fueled violence in recent years. Hate rarely stops with one group. New York will continue confronting it wherever it appears.

Hate crime context

Hate crimes in New York City have been rising in recent years, even as overall violent crime rates have dropped, according to police data. In April, Tisch said that more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in the city so far this year targeted Jewish people. The Upper West Side is a wealthy residential neighborhood with low crime rates, making the daylight attacks particularly jarring. The stabbings add to a pattern of violence against both Asian and Jewish communities in the city.