New York City officials have opened an investigation into the circumstances under which 27-year-old Sayed Mohassib was hired at a Brooklyn public school. Mohassib is accused of fatally stabbing 28-year-old Katie Suarez, who was attacked in late October during an evening jog. The case sparked outrage after it emerged that the suspect had earlier served briefly in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the U.S. Marine Corps. He was reportedly rejected by both forces in the end because of his behavior and mental health problems.
The attack took place Oct. 30 on the Shore Parkway Greenway, a waterfront walking and biking path in southern Brooklyn. Katie Suarez, a 28-year-old bank employee, went out for a run in the evening. Shortly before the incident, she spoke with her father by phone and told him she was near home. When she did not return at the expected time, her parents began searching for her. Her father found her with serious neck wounds. She was taken to a hospital, where she died three days later.
After more than a week of investigation, police arrested a suspect in the 28-year-old’s killing: Sayed Mohassib, a Brooklyn resident. He was charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and illegal weapon possession. He pleaded not guilty.
After Mohassib’s arrest, it turned out that the 27-year-old had been working at PS 200, a public elementary school in Brooklyn. The school is only a few blocks from the site of the attack. Mohassib worked there as a teacher’s assistant. According to U.S. media reports, he had earlier served in the NYPD for about six weeks in 2022, then joined the military. His service in the Marines ended early. Sources connected to the services say he was removed from the Marine Corps because of mental health problems. The 27-year-old later tried to join the NYPD again but was not accepted because of “disturbing behavior.”
On Monday, Nov. 9, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he had directed his team to conduct a full review of the circumstances of Mohassib’s hiring. He stressed that student safety remains the city government’s highest priority.
Editor: JŁ
Source: Nowy Dziennik
