Midtown Times: Suspect in Manhattan Stabbing Spree Faces First-Degree Murder Charges

New York, City – Manhattan was rocked by a violent stabbing spree Monday morning, leaving three people dead and a homeless suspect, Ramon Rivera, facing first-degree murder charges. The charges came just hours after the last victim succumbed to her injuries, marking a grim end to a day of random and brutal attacks.

A Violent Rampage Across Manhattan

Rivera, 51, is accused of carrying out three separate stabbings between 8 a.m. and noon on November 19. According to police, the attacks were unprovoked, and Rivera selected his victims at random. He was apprehended later that morning thanks to the swift actions of a cab driver and a veteran NYPD officer.

The first attack occurred around 8:22 a.m. outside the Chelsea Club, a luxury apartment complex at 444 West 19th Street. Surveillance footage captured Rivera approaching the building wearing a sweater, gloves, and a mask. He fatally stabbed 36-year-old construction worker Angel Lata Landi, a resident of Peekskill, Westchester County. Landi was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Approximately two hours later, Rivera allegedly struck again near 500 East 30th Street in Kips Bay, stabbing a 67-year-old fisherman multiple times in the abdomen. The victim, whose name has not yet been released, was also taken to Bellevue Hospital but could not be saved.

The final attack occurred at 10:55 a.m., near the United Nations headquarters at 42nd Street and 1st Avenue. Rivera is accused of stabbing 36-year-old Wilma Augusti, who lived on West 38th Street, in the chest and arm. Augusti was treated at Cornell Medical Center but died of her injuries that evening.

The Arrest

Rivera’s spree came to an end shortly after the final attack. A cab driver spotted him brandishing knives and flagged down Police Officer Robert Garvey, a 19-year NYPD veteran, near 46th Street and 1st Avenue. Garvey apprehended Rivera, who was found carrying two large, bloodied kitchen knives. His clothing was also stained with blood, authorities said.

“I heard a commotion, stepped outside, and reacted,” Garvey told reporters about the arrest.

A Troubled Past

Sources familiar with the investigation describe Rivera as mentally disturbed, with a history of violent behavior and arrests in New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida for similar crimes. In New York, he was arrested in October on burglary charges and held without bail, with a court hearing initially scheduled for December 3.

Rivera reportedly confessed to the stabbings during questioning, telling investigators that he acted without motive. Authorities believe his mental health issues may have played a role in the attacks.

Mayor Adams Speaks Out

At a press conference following the spree, Mayor Eric Adams expressed frustration with systemic failures in mental health and criminal justice. “Three New Yorkers lost their lives in unprovoked attacks, and we are left searching for answers as to how this could happen,” the mayor said at the 17th Precinct.

The Charges

Rivera now faces three counts of first-degree murder. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison without parole. The NYPD continues to investigate the case as questions mount about the suspect’s prior interactions with the justice system and the mental health care he received.

The tragic events serve as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive reform to address the intersection of homelessness, mental illness, and public safety in New York City.