NYPD: Trevon Murphy arrested in string of stabbings targeting homeless men
NEW YORK -- A suspect has been arrested in the stabbing spree that left one man experiencing homelessness dead and two others injured.
The three separate incidents happened in Manhattan between July 5 and July 11. All three victims were sleeping outdoors when they were stabbed.
Police walked 40-year-old Trevon Murphy out of the Sixth Precinct after he was questioned Wednesday and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
The first was early in the morning on July 5. A 34-year man was killed as he slept in the West Village.
Then another man experiencing homelessness was severely injured in Midtown on July 8.
On July 11, a third victim survived being stabbed on the Upper East Side.
All were brutal crimes targeting the city's most vulnerable.
"It really highlights how imperative it is to move people into safe spaces, into shelters, and eventually into permanent housing," Mayor Eric Adams said.
"This violence should not happen anywhere, but when it does happen, New Yorkers are fortunate to have the combined commitment of your police working with the people we serve," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
This week, the NYPD released surveillance video showing the suspect wearing a distinct sweatshirt and sneakers.
On Wednesday, he was wearing the same clothes when he was spotted in Harlem by retired New York City correction officer Ruben Arias.
"I was on the city bus. I had just gotten on it. I turned to my right, and I saw him sitting on the bench at the bus stop, so I immediately told the bus driver, 'Pull over,'" Arias told CBS2's Nick Caloway.
Arias got off and immediately called 911.
"It felt really good to get one of these perps off the street. Who knows what he could do tomorrow?" he said.
Police say Murphy, who is also experiencing homelessness, had a knife in his pocket when he was arrested.
Sources say the suspect made a confession to police. So far, a motive for those attacks is not clear.
Anyone with additional information about the crime spree is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential
