NYC stabbing suspect Raul Morales charged with attempted murder, hate crime
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The man accused of stabbing two men who allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday afternoon has been charged with attempted murder, including hate crime charges tied to one of the victims, according to the New York City Police Department.
During the indictment march on Friday afternoon, 51-year-old Raul Morales was heard shouting to reporters, “Justice for the Romero family,” mentioning an unknown woman by name and vowing, “You will remember her name forever.”
The NYPD confirmed that Morales faces attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the stabbing of a 57-year-old Asian man.
In the attack on a 50-year-old Jewish man, Morales was charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
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Police said the stabbings appeared to be separate attacks that occurred in close proximity on the Upper West Side on Thursday afternoon. There is no known connection between Morales and the victims or between the two victims, authorities said.
According to police, Morales allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attacks. NYPD is investigating whether bias played a role.
Both victims were taken to the hospital in stable condition. Although Morales had no known mental health history with the NYPD, initial findings suggest mental health may have been a factor in the attacks, police said.
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