Police stop man's stabbing attack on ex-girlfriend, Hempstead officials say

Hempstead Village police officers who responded to a 911 call Thursday morning at a West Columbia Street apartment building stopped a Connecticut man's stabbing attack on his ex-girlfriend, according to village officials. 

The officers followed a trail of blood from a ground-floor elevator to the apartment, where they heard a woman screaming, said Hempstead Village Assistant Police Chief Richard Holland. The officers forcibly entered the apartment and apprehended the defendant.

“We want to acknowledge the great work of the men and women of the police department, Hempstead Village Mayor Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. said. “We want to assure the community that this is an isolated incident. We can feel confident in the Village of Hempstead that we have a police department that is always looking out for the safety of our residents.” 

Holland said police received a call at 8:27 a.m. from a witness who said he saw a man with a knife assault a woman and push her into the elevator. The responding officers were met by the victim’s two children and spotted a trail of blood that led to a third-floor apartment. 

The officers forcibly entered the apartment and stopped Ubay Muhammad, 36, of Bridgeport, Conn., from further attacking the woman. Hempstead police declined to identify the victim. 

The woman suffered multiple lacerations, Holland said, and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of her injuries. She is expected to survive. 

Muhammad had not yet been charged, but he is expected to face arraignment on Friday in First District Court in Hempstead, Holland said.