Raul Morales, 51, was charged Friday with attempted murder as a hate crime following a series of unprovoked daylight stabbings on the Upper West Side.
The specialized charges specifically address the assault on Moshe Grunhaus, a 50-year-old Jewish man who was stabbed in the torso with a screwdriver while leaving a synagogue.
A second victim, a 57-year-old Asian man, was stabbed in the back just minutes earlier while walking near West 84th Street and Central Park West.
While Morales faces multiple counts of attempted murder and assault for both incidents, the hate crime designations currently apply only to the attack on the Jewish victim.
Witnesses and victims told investigators that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both violent encounters.
Reflecting on the character of the Jewish victim, Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center noted that Grunhaus has been a devoted member of the religious community for a decade.
“It’s almost hard to believe,” Levine said to CBS New York.
Dr. Nava Silton, a friend of the victim, recalled the chilling moment she realized the suspect was calmly walking away after the assault occurred.
“After he plunged the screwdriver into his chest, the guy walked off and pretended he was a regular Joe,” Silton told NBC New York.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that while the motive remains under investigation, initial findings suggest mental health issues may have played a significant role.
The suspect has no prior mental health history with the police but does have a criminal record including drug-related arrests dating back to 1991.
Community leaders and elected officials gathered Friday to denounce the violence, citing a troubling rise in antisemitic and anti-Asian incidents across the city.
New York Attorney General Letitia James emphasized the gravity of the growing trend during a rally outside The Jewish Center.
“It’s really critically important that individuals understand that antisemitic acts have been growing in the City of New York,” James said, per FOX 5 New York.
Some community members have voiced criticism toward Mayor Zohran Mamdani, suggesting his recent political rhetoric contributed to a hostile atmosphere for Jewish residents.
Mamdani defended his administration’s stance while condemning the attacks as despicable acts that do not reflect the city’s identity.
“Every New Yorker deserves to be safe, regardless of their religion or race,” Mamdani said in a statement reported by CBS New York.
The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed its civil rights division is also launching an investigation into the stabbings.
Morales appeared in court late Friday where he was remanded without bail until his next scheduled hearing on July 30.
Both victims were treated at Mount Sinai Morningside and are expected to survive their injuries.