Queens man cuffed for stabbing spree

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was joined by top police officials on Thursday to announce that a suspect in a string of stabbings in Queens had been arrested. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

By Jacob Kaye

Police arrested a 27-year-old on Wednesday that they believe stabbed half a dozen people in separate incidents across Queens this month.

Jermain Rigueur was arrested on Wednesday after the NYPD launched a manhunt searching for a suspect in five stabbings that unfolded over the course of this month, with four of the five attacks taking place this week.

Rigueur was charged with three counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault and weapons charges, top police officials and Mayor Eric Adams announced on Thursday. None of Riguer’s alleged victims, all of whom were allegedly stabbed with a hunting knife, died as a result of the attacks.

Police have yet to identify a motive behind the attacks and say that Rigueur has no documented history of mental illness or criminal behavior. He works as a greeter at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn.

The 27-year-old was cuffed outside of the home he rented with several roommates in Springfield Gardens on Wednesday. According to the NYPD, he was wearing the same clothing and accessories he had been wearing during the three stabbings he allegedly had perpetrated earlier in the day.

Cops say that one of Rigueur’s first attacks came on Jan. 8, around 6:20 p.m. near 137th Avenue and 157th Street. There, he allegedly stabbed a 61-year-old man in the back.

Then, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, Rigueur allegedly stabbed a 34-year-old woman while she was walking home. He allegedly was speaking “jibberish” to himself during the attack, police said.

On Wednesday, police said Rigueur went on a stabbing spree, perpetrating at least three attacks in the day – NYPD officials said on Thursday that they plan to charge Rigueur in an attack that occurred on a Brooklyn subway early on Wednesday.

Rigueur allegedly stabbed a 74-year-old man who was escorting his wife to work around 7:30 a.m. on 134th Avenue.

Then, as he was fleeing the scene, he allegedly stabbed a 41-year-old man in the stomach.

Around a half-hour later, Rigueur got onto a bus near Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue.

There, he got into an argument with a 36-year-old man over a seat on the bus. Police say Rigueur then stabbed the man when both were getting off the bus.

Throughout the day, detectives stormed into a number of well-populated Southeast Queens areas in search of the suspect.

According to the police, detectives spoke with people in Rochdale Village, the Baisley Houses, nearby shelters and transit hubs in Downtown Jamaica before arresting Rigueur.

Rigueur was only recently hired at Woodhull Hospital, starting in November. He was put on administrative leave this week and is expected to be fired.