Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here.
Homeless man held without bail in fatal NYC stabbing spree
NEW YORK (PIX11) --- A homeless man with an extensive criminal record is accused of going on a bloody rampage during a deadly stabbing spree in Manhattan on Monday, prosecutors said.
Ramon Rivera, 51, was arraigned Tuesday on three counts of murder for allegedly stabbing three people to death in a series of unprovoked attacks in Manhattan, authorities said.
Rivera, who confessed to the killings when he was taken into custody, is being held without bail, according to the criminal complaint.
Rivera, dressed in a white jumper, did not speak during the brief proceeding, which was attended by some of the victims' family members.
"The defendant embarked on a bloody and violent rampage that took the lives of three innocent New Yorkers who were doing nothing more than going about their day," prosecutor Megan Joy said.
Rivera allegedly stabbed 36-year-old construction worker Angel Lata Landi in Chelsea on 19th Street and 10th Avenue at 8:20 a.m. on Monday, according to authorities. Surveillance video showed a horrified woman pushing a baby in a stroller to safety after witnessing the fatal stabbing.
The defendant then allegedly stabbed 67-year-old Chang Wang to death while he was fishing by the East River two hours later, police said. Rivera is also accused of stabbing 36-year-old Wilma Augustin near the United Nations Headquarters just before 11 a.m., according to authorities. She died after having surgery, sources said.
A witness heard the woman screaming, "Help" before seeing the defendant run off, prosecutors said. A cab driver then followed the suspect after the last attack and flagged officers for help.
Video obtained by PIX11 News showed Rivera changing his outfit, putting on gloves, and pulling out a kitchen knife from a small purple backpack. Two knives were recovered after Rivera was arrested.
Rivera has a history of mental health issues and an extensive criminal background spanning multiple states, but he never spent more than a year in jail, according to authorities. He was living in a homeless shelter near NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
In December 2023, Rivera was arrested for two burglaries that were not bail-eligible and released on supervised release. He was then arrested in New Jersey for similar charges and brought back to New York City for new charges before the December arrest, sources said.
He was held on bail and while in custody assaulted a correction officer in the Bellevue prison ward, sources said. The officer was also arrested for trying to assault Rivera.
He was at Rikers from Feb. 19 to Oct. 17, 2024, on charges of burglary in the third degree and assault in the third degree.
Rivera pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2024 and was sentenced to 364 days but was released after eight months of time served. He was released on Oct. 17 because it's DOC’s practice to release defendants after serving two-thirds of their city sentence, sources said.
At no point in the last several years was Rivera held or involuntarily committed for a mental health issue, according to sources. The stabbing spree is raising questions for Mayor Eric Adams about the issue of mental health in New York City.
"We have a real problem that we have to be honest about and I’m willing to be honest about it," Adams said.
Adams said he is committed now more than ever to his plan to engage with homeless people in obvious mental health crises on the streets and subways — and involuntarily remove them if necessary. He wants the state to give him more power and clarity when it comes to those removals.
"We have to take those who can't take care of themselves off our street and give them the humane care that they deserve," Adams said.