Ex-NYPD Officer Charged with Murder in Fatal Slashing of Brooklyn Jogger

POLICY WIRE — Brooklyn, New York — A former New York City police officer who was previously dismissed from service due to mental health concerns is in custody following the fatal stabbing of a woman running.

Sayed Mohassib, 27, was arrested Saturday and faces charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and tampering with physical evidence. The charges stem from the October 30 attack on 28-year-old Katie Suarez, who suffered a fatal wound to the neck while exercising on the Shore Parkway Greenway near her residence.

At the time of his apprehension, Mohassib was employed as an aide at an elementary school. According to police sources cited by the New York Post, the suspect told investigators he had no recollection of the incident, claiming instead that he woke up covered in blood while clutching a knife.

Law enforcement located Mohassib at his residence in Bensonhurst after reviewing surveillance footage that appeared to show him exiting the park during the window of the crime. Investigators believe the suspect discarded the murder weapon in the trash; the item was transported to a landfill in Staten Island before being moved to a dump site in New Jersey.

Suarez, who worked as a teller for TD Bank and was preparing for a race, was on her standard waterfront route after finishing work when she was attacked. She had intended to meet with her parents immediately following her run.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny noted that Suarez called her father at approximately 7:56 p.m., informing him she was about half a mile from meeting and would see him soon. When she failed to show up, her father began a search and discovered her unconscious under a tree on the path at 8:16 p.m.

The victim was transported to a hospital with critical neck injuries but was later declared dead and died three days after the assault. Her organs were donated following her death.

Details regarding Mohassib’s history reveal that he joined the NYPD in 2022 but served for only six weeks before leaving to enlist in the Marines. The military eventually discharged him after determining he was not psychologically fit for duty.

Following his discharge, Mohassib attempted to return to the police department but was denied and instead took work as a paraprofessional at PS 200 in Bensonhurst. While he returned to the school shortly after the stabbing, coworkers reportedly alerted authorities due to his incoherent speech and erratic behavior, though these reports were not the primary lead for detectives.

Public records and photos show Mohassib attended Brooklyn College where he played basketball during the same era as Suarez, though authorities have not yet confirmed any prior connection between the two. Police currently maintain that the stabbing was a random act.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)