A suspect is in custody after a stabbing at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse left two court officers injured on Monday morning.
According to the Office of Court Administration (OCA), at just before 9:45 a.m. on June 16, an armed individual reportedly assaulted uniformed court officers in the lobby of the south side of the courthouse, located at 100 Centre St. Preliminary information found that the suspect allegedly stabbed and slashed at least two officers in what appeared to be a targeted attack of the uniformed officers working security details at the courthouse.
Several court officers rushed in to stop the assailant, subduing him near a bank of magnetometers. The officers disarmed the suspect and took him into custody.
OCA spokesperson Al Baker told amNewYork that the New York State Unified Court System “immediately initiated a criminal investigation into the incident, along with its law enforcement partners, and that investigation is continuing.”
“Within just a couple of days of launching a widespread advocacy campaign making the public aware of the severe safety deficiencies in our courts, OCA was in Brooklyn draining more personnel resources, while in Manhattan Criminal Court, two Court Officers were stabbed with one officer sustaining serious wounds to his face and neck. What will it take for court leaders to take the appropriate action to secure these facilities? Our members aren’t safe and neither is the public. The time to act is now!” said Patrick Cullen, President of the NY State Supreme Court Officers Association, in a statement.
