Suspect arrested in East Village subway stabbing – NBC New York

Police said a suspect was arrested in connection with a stabbing at a Manhattan subway station that was sparked by an accidental push on the stairs.

The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. Friday at the entrance to the L subway line at the corner of 14th Street and Avenue A in the East Village, according to police. A 29-year-old man was walking down the stairs when he accidentally bumped into someone and the two complained.

As the argument became more heated, the other man pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the back before running away, police said. The victim was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.

According to police, detectives searched for the man for nearly three days before he was caught Monday evening. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Raymond Kwok, was charged with first- and second-degree assault and weapons possession. Information about Kwok's attorney was not immediately clear.

Residents of the neighborhood said there have been positive changes in recent months after a fatal sidewalk stabbing in June reignited quality of life concerns that the community has struggled with for years, including problems such as discarded garbage, homelessness and illegal food sales.

Mayor Eric Adams had promised in the past to clean up the area and deploy more police patrols – and that seemed to be working. On Monday, there were no vendors to be seen, the sidewalks were empty and there was hardly any trash to be seen. Officers were stationed at various locations along the block.

Joaquin Pinela, who works at a corner diner, said the New York Police Department has installed mobile lights on the block to deter crime. He said that while police presence was increased after the incident in the summer, the number of officers has not been as high recently.

“With everything that has happened, I would have expected the police to be more active,” Pinela said. “We need more contact between the police and everyone here.”