2 killed, 1 critically hurt in stabbing spree in Manhattan: Police

(NEW YORK) — A man has been taken into custody after allegedly killing two people and injuring a third in an apparent unprovoked stabbing spree in Manhattan, authorities said.

The first victim, a 30-year-old construction worker, was fatally attacked on West 19th Street at 8:22 a.m. Monday, the NYPD said.

About two hours later, another man was fatally stabbed on East 30th Street, police said.

The third victim, a woman, is in critical condition after being attacked around 10:55 a.m. on East 46th Street, police said.

“He just walked up to them and began to attack them with the knives,” Chief of Detective Joe Kenny said at a news conference.

The 51-year-old suspect — who lives at the Bellevue Men’s Shelter on East 30th Street — appeared to pick the victims at random, police said.

The suspect has eight prior arrests, according to law enforcement, and is believed to have severe mental health challenges, Mayor Eric Adams said.

“There’s a real question as to why he was on the street,” Adams said.

Two knives have been recovered, police said.

“These random attacks left two innocent victims dead and another fighting for her life,” Kenny said. “We do have a suspect in custody and we are not looking for any others at this time.”

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