A slew of Democrats slammed Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in the wake of a stabbing spree which killed three people.
Democratic New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, Democratic New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, New York City Councilman Keith Powers and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine demanded answers as to why Ramon Rivera was a free man when he allegedly stabbed three people on Nov. 18, according to multiple sources. Rivera was out on bail for a grand larceny charge the day of the incident and had been arrested eight times prior for various offenses.
“I am writing to express alarm at the complicity of the State and the City in the murder of three New Yorkers, who were savagely stabbed to death in a homicidal rampage that took hold in broad daylight,” Torres said in a Sunday letter shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The worst offender is NYC DOC [Department of Corrections], which made the inexplicable and inexcusable decision to release Ramon Rivera early, enabling him to serve only 9 months of a 12-month sentence.”
The New York DOC let Rivera out on supervised release, contingent upon his promise to appear at his Dec. 4 court date, according to the New York Post.
During his incarceration, Ramon Rivera was transferred to the psychiatric unit of Bellevue, where he assaulted a corrections officer. Not only did the State and City fail to punish Rivera, the City released Rivera early for “good behavior.”
Rivera went on stab three innocent… pic.twitter.com/w3Toiz7v5d
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) November 25, 2024
“All accounts indicate that Mr. Rivera’s case is a damning indictment of the failures of the criminal justice and mental health systems in New York City,” a separate letter signed Nov. 21 by Nadler, Powers, Levine and other Manhattan legislators said, according to the New York Post. “The murders he committed may have been prevented.”
Rivera had a history of “severe mental health issues,” Adams said at a press conference Nov. 18 discussing the incident. Rivera has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, according to NBC New York. His victims included 36-year-old Angel Lata Landi, 36-year-old Wilma Augustin and 67-year-old Chang Wang, who were killed in three different locations over approximately two hours, the outlet reported.
“There’s a real question as to why he was on the street.” Adams said at the press conference. “It’s preliminary now, but he was sentenced a few months ago.”
Torres’ offices did not have additional comment beyond the letter, and Nadler’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request.
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