NYC stabbing suspect charged with 3 murders not in court because of mental health evaluation
NEW YORK -- Ramon Rivera, the man accused of killing three people in a stabbing rampage in New York City, was due in court Friday but did not appear due to a mental health evaluation.
The district attorney said Rivera, 51, went on a two and a half hour stabbing spree Monday morning, alleging he fatally stabbed 36-year-old Angel Gustavo Lata Landi, 67-year-old Chang Wong, and 36-year-old Wilma Augustin.
Lata Landi was working construction in Chelsea, Wong was fishing in the East River near 30th Street, and Augustin, who has an 8-year-old daughter, was sitting on a park bench on First Avenue near 42nd Street.
Alleged stabber was just released from jail, prosecutors say
Rivera has been held without bail since his arrest on Monday. Prosecutors say he is homeless and no stranger to the criminal justice system.
Police sources tell CBS News New York that Rivera has been arrested in New York and New Jersey eight times in the last year, most recently pleading guilty to attempted assault in September. He was released from Rikers early on Oct. 17 for "good behavior."
During questioning, Rivera told officers he did not target the stabbing victims due to race, age or sex, but chose them because they appeared to be alone and distracted, a police source told CBS News New York.
His next court appearance is set for Dec. 19.
Vigil held for victim of NYC stabbing rampage
The family of Lata Landi held a vigil Friday on West 19th Street, where he was killed.
His mother, Mercedes Lata Landi, flew in from Ecuador to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of her son, who had been sending money home to pay for her cancer treatments.
In Spanish, she said she was at a loss for words after just speaking with him Sunday night.
Lata Landi's sister Berta said in Spanish, "You will always live in my heart."
Berta Landi was mournful but angry Rivera was let out of jail in the first place.
"I want the city to take people's cases seriously," she said in Spanish. "Because the man already had eight criminal records and I don't know why the person was on the streets."
"How can be a crazy guy, if it's a criminal, be out in the street? That means New York City is unsafe right now because many people that are supposed to be in jail or they have mental illness, they are in the street. I feel unsafe right now," said Walter Sinche, a spokesperson for the family.