A New York hospital greeter with no prior criminal history was arrested for a string of unprovoked stabbings that left the city on edge.
Mayor Eric Adams spoke during a press conference Thursday announcing the arrest of Jermain Rigueur, a 27-year-old greeter at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn.
He’s been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder.
“It didn’t appear as though he was looking to stop anytime soon,” Adams said of Rigueur, who is suspected of using a hunting knife in a series of six stabbings that began Jan. 8 and lasted over the course of nine days, according to CBS News.
When Rigueur allegedly stabbed the first victim — a 61-year-old man in the back — “the suspect actually laughed in the victim’s face,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said.
Five more victims, ranging in age from 28 to 74, were allegedly attacked earlier this week and suffered non-life-threatening stab wounds.
In addition to a clean arrest record, Rigueur also had no history of mental illness, according to police, WABC-TV reported.
“He completed a background check, and as you heard from the police chief, he had no priors. So even though we do fingerprinting, his record was clear. He passed the background check,” Dr. Mitch Katz, president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, said per CBS.
A motive remains under investigation.
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