Ramon Rivera, suspect in 3 NYC fatal stabbings, charged with murder; cops ID victims Angel Lata Landi, Wilma Agustin

A homeless man who allegedly went on an unprovoked stabbing spree across town Monday morning in Manhattan, killing two men and a woman, has been charged with murder, New York City officials said.

The attacks began about 8:22 a.m. on West 19th Street, moved to East 30th Street and then 42nd Street near the United Nations, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, who added a man was arrested by an NYPD patrol officer from Long Island shortly after the third stabbing.

The NYPD identified the alleged attacker as Ramon Rivera, 51. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Two of the victims, a 36-year-old man stabbed on West 19th near a construction site where he was employed, and a 68-year-old man attacked while fishing near the Water Club location on the East River, died of their injuries despite being rushed to nearby hospitals, Kenny said.

 A third victim, identified as a 36-year-old woman, was stabbed multiple times at 42nd Street and First Avenue. She died of her wounds late Monday, according to the NYPD. Police identified her as Wilma Agustin of Manhattan.

Police identified the first victim as Angel Lata Landi, a resident of Peekskill; as of Tuesday morning, police had not identified the second victim.

The suspect was arrested after Officer Robert Garvey reacted to cries of onlookers about a man committing what the officer believed was a robbery near the Turkish Mission, near 46th Street, Kenny said. Police fielded multiple 911 calls from people reporting the stabbings and said a taxi driver was a witness to the third attack. They said he started following the third victim after he suspected she had been robbed.

Shortly after, Garvey, who the NYPD said lives on Long Island and has 19 years on the force, intervened and arrested the suspect, who was carrying two knives, officials said. Officials said it appeared the suspect had been walking from crime scene to crime scene.

"They recovered two large kitchen knives that are covered in blood," Kenny said of the arrest. "His clothing is also covered in blood."

Speaking at a hastily called news conference at the 17th Precinct in Manhattan with other NYPD officials, Mayor Eric Adams said the attacks were an indication of multiple failings of agencies designed to help protect the city.

"It is a clear, clear example of the criminal justice system and mental health system that continues to fail New Yorkers," Adams said. "Three New Yorkers, unprovoked attacks, that left us searching for answers on how something like this could happen."

Kenny said the suspect had eight prior arrests, the latest being in October for grand larceny. Charges were pending late Monday but are likely to include murder and attempted murder, among other crimes, officials said.

Adams noted the suspect had been sentenced a few months earlier for unspecified charges and appeared to have mental problems. Why the suspect was out on the street is under investigation, the mayor said.

Garvey told reporters he was just doing what came naturally.

"I just heard a commotion from where I was, stepped outside, heard what people were saying and reacted," Garvey said.

Asked if the suspect said anything during the attacks or if police knew of any motives for the stabbings, Kenny said it appeared the victims were attacked and stabbed viciously.

"As of right now, these attacks seem to be unprovoked, that he just walked up to them and began to attack them with the knives," Kenny said.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.