The New York Police Department arraigned Raul Morales, the suspect in the Upper West Side double stabbing, on charges of attempted murder and assault as a hate crime for targeting a Jewish victim. Morales, 51, is accused of stabbing Moshe Grunhaus, 50, and a 57-year-old Asian man.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that Morales shouted 'Allahu Akbar' during both attacks. While authorities classified the attack on Grunhaus as a hate crime, they filed the same charges for the Asian victim but did not treat that attack as a hate crime. Both victims are expected to survive.
Investigation and Suspect's Background
The suspect was found to live in an apartment near the scene of the attacks. During a search of his home on Friday, a laptop, a Quran, and a book about Che Guevara were seized. It is unclear whether the items belonged to Morales.
Morales, who has no known mental health history in NYPD records, is being examined in the initial probe for whether mental health may have played a role. He had two open drug arrests in 1991 and five sealed arrest records. Neighbors said he was quiet.
At his court appearance on Friday night, after the charges were read, Morales told those in the courtroom, 'I love you, mom.' The suspect is expected to appear before a judge again on July 30.
Reactions from US Officials and Investigation
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed satisfaction that Morales would be held accountable, saying he hoped for the harshest penalty. 'Every New Yorker deserves to be safe regardless of their religion or race. Our administration will stand against bigotry and do everything in its power to root out antisemitism, racism and all acts of hate,' Mamdani said.
The US Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has also opened an investigation into the incident.
Victims' Condition and Community Reaction
The Jewish victim, Moshe Grunhaus, had been praying in a synagogue minutes before the stabbing and was attacked just 60 meters from the building. Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center, who has known Grunhaus for a decade, said the victim was discharged from the hospital on Friday afternoon and was in good condition.
Levine said, 'In my 22-year rabbinic career, this is the first time I visited a stabbing victim in the hospital and the first time I visited a victim of a hate crime. This cannot continue; it is unacceptable.' It was noted that Grunhaus had recently moved to Florida and was back in the city to wrap up his affairs when he was attacked.
The second stabbing victim, an Asian man, continues to receive treatment at the Mount Sinai Health System and his condition is reportedly improving.
