Man Charged with Three Murders in Manhattan Stabbings

Ramon Rivera, a 51-year-old homeless man with a history of mental illness and multiple arrests, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder following a random stabbing spree in Manhattan that left three victims dead. The attacks occurred within 2 ½ hours, beginning with a construction worker on West 19th Street, followed by a fisherman at the East River, and concluding with a woman near the United Nations headquarters. Rivera was apprehended after a cab driver alerted police to the third attack, and he was found covered in blood with two kitchen knives. Mayor Eric Adams criticized the criminal justice and mental health systems for failing to prevent such incidents, as Rivera had been released from Rikers Island prior to the attacks. The NYPD is investigating the motive behind the unprovoked attacks, which bewildered the community and officials alike. With crime rates fluctuating in New York City, this incident raises concerns about public safety and mental health management.