Police: MoMA stabbing suspect Gary Cabana arrested after setting fire in Philadelphia
NEW YORK -- The Museum of Modern Art in Midtown has reopened after being closed since Saturday's double stabbing inside the lobby.
Police say the man they believe is responsible for the attack is now behind bars. Gary Cabana, 60, was found sleeping on a park bench in Philadelphia.
Cabana is expected to face assault and aggravated harassment charges, said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig.
As CBS2's Elijah Westbrook reported, it's now business as usual at the Museum of Modern Art. Tourists flocked to the world famous attraction on 53rd Street after it opened its doors for the first time in three days.
"MoMA reopened today and we look forward to welcoming back our members and visitors. We're relieved and grateful that our colleagues are recovering, and the attacker was arrested," the museum said in a statement.
"I'm really excited. I've never been to New York and never been to America and going to such a big museum is quite interesting," tourist Alex Mueller said.
Mueller and his father, who traveled from Germany, were part of a long line of guests who were greeted Tuesday.
Police arrested Cabana during the overnight hours in Philadelphia.
Police say Cabana stabbed two employees working behind the counter after he was denied access due to two prior disorderly conduct incidents at the museum.
Authorities in Philadelphia described Cabana's capture.
"The information I received that this individual is cooperating with police. He didn't put up a fight, he didn't resist," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters. "When police took him into custody, he came along with police voluntarily. So, we're lucky in that respect."
His arrest comes as authorities say he intentionally set a hotel room on fire Monday evening. First responders were called to a Best Western on reports of a fire burning in a room on the fifth floor. Cellphone video appears to show police and firefighters responding to that incident, which they now believe was the result of arson.
After checking surveillance video and seeing the suspect may have signed into the hotel under his real name, Philadelphia police stepped up patrols in the city. They eventually found Cabana sleeping on a bench at a Greyhound bus station.
"I'm glad he was apprehended. I hope that justice is served, and I hope that the victims are OK," one person said.
Following Saturday's attack, there was noticeably ramped-up security, with many more guards, at the Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday.
"Whatever security they had, there was no counter measure to somebody that wanted to hurt people with a knife," security expert Manny Gomez told CBS2's Leah Mishkin.
There were six security officers checking bags outside the building on Tuesday. There were also NYPD officers on the front side and back side of the building. Those are the kind of security measures Gomez says all art institutions should start implementing.
"I would advise immediately start something. If you don't have an armed guard, have an armed guard," Gomez said.
Gomez said art institutions are soft targets, meaning, you can typically walk right in.
"These art and cultural centers want to have a welcoming environment, which is understandable, but when it comes to security, we need to start thinking about tougher security measures," Gomez said.
"I feel like it'll be safe. Otherwise, I would not put my child in danger," one museum patron said.
As far as the two employees who were stabbed over the weekend, CBS2 was told they're at the hospital and are expected to recover.
