A 74-year-old man was stabbed in the stomach Friday on a busy Jackson Heights block and rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was listed in stable condition. The attack unfolded in the crowded corridor near 31st Avenue and 94th Street, witnesses told police. They described the assailant as a woman dressed head to toe in black who bolted on foot toward Jackson Mill Road as officers began sweeping nearby streets. Police have not said whether the victim and the woman knew each other.
What police say about the incident
According to the New York Post, the man was struck once on the left side of his stomach, then taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was reported in stable condition. The Post also reports that the suspect took off with the knife in hand toward Jackson Mill Road and remained at large for several hours after the assault while detectives canvassed the neighborhood.
Citywide context
The Jackson Heights stabbing lands amid a string of unsettling, seemingly random attacks across the city. On April 11, a machete-wielding attacker wounded three older people at Grand Central Terminal before police shot the suspect, according to the Associated Press. Incidents like that have renewed scrutiny of how authorities handle public safety in transit hubs and on busy commercial strips citywide.
How to help investigators
Detectives from the 115th Precinct are asking anyone with information, photos or video from the scene to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or submit a tip online. The department notes that anonymous tips can qualify for a reward. The Crime Stoppers program page explains how to share information securely on the NYPD Crime Stoppers site.
The investigation is ongoing, and police say they will release more details as they confirm them. Officers continue reviewing footage and speaking with potential witnesses while neighbors wait to hear whether the woman in black is tracked down.
