The suspect in a double stabbing on the Upper West Side of New York City has been charged with several offenses, including attempted murder as a hate crime. The two victims, belonging to different communities, believe significant changes are needed to ensure safety.
Charges in NYC Double Stabbing
Raul Morales, aged 51, faces charges of attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, and criminal possession of a weapon. He is accused of stabbing Moshe Grunhaus, a 50-year-old Jewish man. For his attack on a 57-year-old Asian man, Morales is charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, though not as a hate crime in this instance. Both victims are expected to survive.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reports that the suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both incidents. Morales resides in an apartment building near the attack sites. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence on Friday, retrieving a laptop and a bag of books, including the Quran and material on Che Guevara, though ownership of these items by Morales is unclear. Morales reportedly lives with other individuals in the apartment.
A neighbor mentioned Morales never speaks to her, even when she greets him. Morales has no recorded mental health history with the NYPD, yet Tisch notes the initial investigation points to mental health as a possible factor. His criminal history includes two open drug arrests from 1991 and five sealed arrests.
Community Response
The incident has prompted calls for action to address safety concerns in the community.
Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center has known Grunhaus for about ten years, describing him as devoted to the Jewish community. Grunhaus had been at prayer prior to the attack, which occurred steps away from the synagogue.
“Moshe had just left the synagogue after spending the morning and early afternoon with us,” said Levine, highlighting the proximity of the attack to the place of worship. Levine visited Grunhaus in the hospital on Friday morning, finding him in good spirits despite the circumstances, surrounded by friends and family.
The rabbi expressed disbelief and concern following the attack. “In my 22 years as a rabbi, I’ve never had to visit a victim of a hate crime in the hospital. There’s a person whose life is completely disrupted by this event. It’s intolerable.” Grunhaus recently relocated to Florida and was in town to finalize personal matters when the stabbing occurred.
Leave a Reply