New York City police have arrested a 27-year-old teacher’s aide and charged him with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Katie Suarez, a 28-year-old woman attacked while jogging along a Brooklyn waterfront trail last week.
The Arrest and the Victim
The NYPD arrested Sayed Mohassib on Saturday after detectives developed evidence allegedly placing him at the scene of the October 30 attack. Suarez was stabbed in the neck while jogging along the Belt Parkway waterfront in Brooklyn and died from her injuries three days later. She had called her father around 8 p.m. that evening to tell him she was about half a mile from home, according to police officials.
When Suarez failed to arrive home, her parents went searching for her. Her father discovered her with the stab wound to her neck. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny confirmed the timeline of events, though investigators have not yet released a motive for the attack.
Suspect’s Troubled Employment History
Mohassib currently works as a teacher’s aide at a Brooklyn public elementary school located near the crime scene, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation. His employment history reveals a troubling pattern of mental health concerns across multiple positions. He briefly worked for the NYPD before being removed for psychological reasons, the source told ABC News.
After his removal from the police department, Mohassib joined the Marines but was later discharged due to mental health issues. He subsequently attempted to rejoin the NYPD but was unsuccessful in that effort. The source did not provide additional details about the specific nature of the psychological concerns that led to his removal from law enforcement.
Public Safety Questions
The case raises questions about background screening processes for positions working with children in public schools. Mohassib’s employment at an elementary school despite his removal from law enforcement for psychological reasons has not been addressed by city officials. No attorney information was available for Mohassib at the time of his arrest, and investigators have not disclosed what evidence led them to identify him as a suspect.
The attack occurred on a popular waterfront jogging path, an area typically used by local residents for exercise and recreation. The fatal stabbing has heightened safety concerns among Brooklyn residents who use the Belt Parkway trail system for outdoor activities.