A hospital employee was arrested and charged with stabbing six people in a series of unprovoked attacks that sparked “real fears throughout” New York City, authorities said Thursday.
Jermain Rigueur, who was born in 1996 and has no prior criminal record, was arrested on charges of attempted murder, felony assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
According to authorities, the suspect works at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, passed a background check, and has no history of mental health issues.
Rigueur’s work lanyard could be seen in one surveillance videotape, according to authorities.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban commended detectives and community witnesses for their assistance in putting an end to this alleged stabbing spree.
“Ultimately, it came down to basic detective work—chasing leads, knocking on doors,” he told reporters on Thursday. “It was about knocking on doors. It involved walking across communities, chatting to individuals, and questioning witnesses.
According to Mayor Eric Adams, the man’s arrest most likely prevented additional individuals from being harmed.
“He attacked six people and did not appear to be planning to stop anytime soon. And thank God, no one died as a result of this catastrophe,” Adams stated. “But it did send real fears throughout our entire city so it was crucial that we have apprehended him and brought him to justice.”
Over the course of nine days, five people were stabbed with hunting knives in different incidents in Queens’ Jamaica area, authorities said Wednesday. Three attacks occurred that day in around 30 minutes, according to authorities.
On Thursday, investigators linked the suspect to the sixth attack, which occurred on a J train in the Brooklyn district of Williamsburg on Wednesday.
A 61-year-old man was stabbed in the back on January 8, at 6:20 p.m. ET, according to authorities. He was transferred to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and is reported to be stable.
On Tuesday morning, shortly after midnight, a 34-year-old woman was attacked from behind while heading home and stabbed on the right side of her torso before fleeing on foot. She was rushed to the hospital and is now stable.
Three men, ages 74, 41, and 36, were stabbed separately between 7:29 and 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Two were stabbed in the back, while one was wounded in the abdomen. According to authorities, all three were treated at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and are in stable condition.
According to authorities, the last of these victims was on an MTA bus to work when they got into an altercation over a seat. The victim and the attacker got off the bus before the stabbing occurred.
The person wanted in the attacks was described by police as 5-foot-tall and wearing a dark gray jacket, black pants, black shoes, and a blue mask.
The department had launched a public appeal for information on the person’s whereabouts, offering a $3,500 prize for clues in the case.