A 37-year-old man was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition Wednesday after being stabbed inside Selis Manor, a longtime Chelsea residence for blind and visually impaired New Yorkers, according to police. The attack unfolded inside the building on West 23rd Street near Seventh Avenue, and investigators spent the evening canvassing the area for clues and witnesses.
Stabbing Inside a Residence for the Blind
New York Post reports that the victim was stabbed in the stomach inside Selis Manor on Wednesday, leaving him clinging to life. Detectives from the NYPD’s 13th Precinct responded to the scene, and by Thursday there were still no arrests, according to the outlet.
About Selis Manor
Selis Manor is a city-subsidized residence whose stated mission is to serve people who are blind or visually impaired, and it hosts community programming that includes the VISIONS center, according to VISIONS. Public property records list the building at 135 West 23rd Street and indicate there are roughly 200 residential units in the property, per PropertyShark.
Neighbors Worry
The violence has rattled neighbors and advocates who say residents of Selis Manor, many of whom depend on consistent routines and local support networks, are especially vulnerable to disruptions like this. A nearby counter that historically catered to Selis Manor residents was in the spotlight earlier this year when it shut down in a rent dispute, underscoring how much the block’s daily life leans on small businesses, as reported by a beloved Chelsea diner for blind neighbors. Knife attacks have been reported in several parts of the city in recent months, including a fatal double stabbing in Hell’s Kitchen in April, according to NBC New York.
Investigation
NYPD detectives are still piecing together what happened inside Selis Manor and have called on anyone who was in or around the building at the time of the attack to contact investigators. As of Thursday there was no public word on a possible motive, and no arrests had been announced, according to New York Post.
