Ramon Rodriguez-Rivera, 51, is in custody following a stabbing rampage in Manhattan on Monday morning that left three individuals dead.
Authorities have confirmed that Rodriguez-Rivera, a homeless man with a lengthy criminal record and documented mental health issues, had been arrested twice in Hudson County, New Jersey, and some have used this drama to cloud the issues regarding changes intended to extend justice for all.
The Manhattan Attacks
Rodriguez-Rivera is accused of killing three people in unprovoked attacks within a two-hour span across Manhattan. The victims include a 36-year-old construction worker, a 67-year-old man fishing along the East River, and a 36-year-old woman near the United Nations.
The first stabbing occurred around 8:20 a.m. outside a construction site at 444 West 19th Street, where Angel Lata Landi of Peekskill, NY, was fatally stabbed in the stomach. About two hours later, a second attack took place at 500 East 30th Street, where a 67-year-old man was stabbed while fishing. The third attack occurred near East 42nd Street and 1st Avenue, claiming the life of Manhattan resident Wilma Augustin.
The suspect was apprehended shortly after the third attack near 46th Street and 1st Avenue, thanks to a tip from a taxi driver who witnessed the assault and followed the suspect. Officer Robert F. Garvey, a 19-year NYPD veteran, made the arrest. Police recovered two bloodied kitchen knives at the scene.
Mayor Adams Calls for Accountability
At a press conference, Mayor Eric Adams questioned why Rodriguez-Rivera, with a history of arrests and mental health concerns, was not detained before Monday’s tragic events.
“We need to examine why this individual was on the streets,” said Adams, who is the subject of a federal indictment charging him with bribery, campaign finance offenses, and conspiracy.
Prior Arrests in New Jersey and Criminal History
Court records reveal that Rodriguez-Rivera was arrested in Hudson County in January for two burglary incidents. In Hoboken, he allegedly stole over $500 worth of CBD products from a store on 14th Street, and days later, he was accused of burglarizing a Union City electronics store.
Both cases led to pretrial release under New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform Act, which prioritizes detaining violent offenders over nonviolent ones. Rodriguez-Rivera later failed to appear in court, resulting in bench warrants.
Critics of New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform Act (CJR), which prioritizes pretrial detention for violent offenders while emphasizing release for nonviolent defendants, often overlook critical context about crime and incarceration.
First, the reality that approximately 75% of reported crimes in the United States go unsolved highlights a significant flaw in focusing enforcement energy on keeping nonviolent offenders detained pretrial. FBI data from 2021 shows clearance rates of 50% for violent crimes and just 15-20% for property crimes, meaning a vast majority of cases remain unresolved.
Second, before the implementation of reforms like New Jersey’s, pretrial detention often unfairly penalized poor and marginalized individuals.
For example, a 2013 study revealed that nearly 40% of New Jersey’s jail population was incarcerated due to an inability to afford bail, with 12% held on bail amounts of $2,500 or less. This inequity predominantly impacted racial and ethnic minorities. Many individuals spent extended periods in jail for charges they were ultimately cleared of, undermining the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”
New Jersey’s reforms reduced pretrial detention rates significantly, dropping the pretrial jail population by 43.9% between 2015 and 2018. This indicates that reforms effectively balance community safety with fairness, without compromising trial attendance or public safety
In addition to his New Jersey charges, Rodriguez-Rivera has a history of arrests spanning several states, including New York, Ohio, and Florida, with charges ranging from burglary and grand larceny to domestic violence and DUI. Earlier this year, he served time at Rikers Island for a series of burglaries in Manhattan and was later hospitalized in Bellevue’s psychiatric ward after assaulting a corrections officer.
Ongoing Investigation
Police have confirmed that the Manhattan attacks appear to be unprovoked and are not seeking additional suspects. Rodriguez-Rivera faces three counts of first-degree murder and remains in custody.
The tragic events have reignited debates about bail reform, mental health interventions, and systemic accountability in handling repeat offenders with documented behavioral health issues.