Post by Scumhunter on Jun 4, 2014 19:28:28 GMT -5
Police named a suspect Wednesday evening in the stabbing of two children, one fatally, inside an elevator in Brooklyn.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said at a news conference that the suspect has been identified as Daniel St. Hubert, 27. He is described as a black male standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds.
He was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and blue jean shorts. He is considered armed and dangerous.
St. Hubert was just paroled for an assault conviction on May 23. He has been charged in the past with assaulting a police officer and a correction officer, Boyce said.
He was identified by linking DNA off the knife used in the stabbings with the name of someone whose DNA was in the NYPD’s system, sources told CBS 2.
Police released two photos of St. Hubert, and believe he has altered his appearance by shaving his head.
The attack happened Sunday inside the Boulevard Houses public housing development in East New York and left 6-year-old Prince Joshua “P.J.” Avitto dead and his friend, 7-year-old Mikayla Capers, fighting for her life.
Boyce was joined at the news conference on the suspect by police Commissioner Bill Bratton, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and Mayor Bill de Blasio – who implored New Yorkers to be on the lookout for St. Hubert.
“The human dynamic here is so deeply moving, so disturbing – two young children on a summer evening on the way to get ice cream,” de Blasio said. “I spoke to the father of P.J. Avitto yesterday. I spoke to his mother today. These parents are in such pain now. As a parent myself, my heart goes out to them, and all of the family members.”
Anyone with information about St. Hubert is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Meanwhile, the Western Beef grocery chain is adding $50,000 to the reward for information leading to an arrest, bringing the total to $62,000.
“It was a sense of outrage and intense sorrow at what happened and with those conflicting emotions, it kind of compels you,” said Benjamin Petrofsky, of Western Beef. “You’ve got to do something.”
The children had been playing outside under adult supervision when they went upstairs to get some ice cream from P.J.’s sixth-floor apartment.
That was when police said the suspect followed them into the elevator and used a steak knife to stab each child multiple times.
P.J. died at a hospital. Mikayla remains in critical but stable condition. Her family says she is in the Intensive Care Unit with a breathing tube and is in and out of consciousness, but responding to commands.
Since Sunday’s attack, police have flooded the neighborhood looking for the suspect.
Investigators are working off a sketch based on a description from Mikayla. He is described as a black man between 25 and 35 years old, approximately 6-feet-tall with a heavy build, police said. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt.
“They’re doing the best they possibly can as far as trying to catch this suspect,” said P.J.’s father, Nicholas Avitto. “I spoke to the mayor and he said we’re going to catch this individual.”
Nicholas Avitto claims he’s seen the suspect before, identifying him as a homeless man he’s seen in the family’s building.
“I saw that sketch and I recognize that individual,” he said. “I saw that picture and I was devastated.”
Police believe the same man may also be responsible for killing 18-year-old Tanaya Copeland, who was stabbed to death just blocks away Friday night.
Boyce said St. Hubert had not been officially named as a suspect in the Copeland stabbing, but his possible involvement remained under investigation Wednesday evening.
Investigators found an 8-inch kitchen knife with a black handle near the scene on Sunday, similar to one used in the attack Friday night.
We are dealing with a dangerous assailant here,” said Assistant Chief Gerald Nelson, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn North. “So we want the community to be safe, but it’s going to be solved with your help.”
Other than the victims, there were no witnesses and no surveillance cameras inside the building.
“We are chasing a ghost,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “There is nothing else that exists beyond the sketch as far as we can tell which is why we want all hands on deck.”
CBS 2 has learned that $500,000 was earmarked for surveillance cameras at the Boulevard Houses and other New York City Housing Authority buildings last July, but they only got the go-ahead to install the cameras on Monday, a day after the children were attacked. Mayor de Blasio emphasized the importance of getting the cameras installed.
NYCHA told CBS 2 the process is complex, but necessarily comprehensive.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said not enough was done and called it “unacceptable bureaucracy.”
“They were sitting on the money for a variety of reasons and I think it was a bad strategic decision by NYCHA,” the mayor said. “By cutting a number of red tape steps in the process, they can get these in place this year.”
Copeland’s mother Rochelle Copeland said she is devastated and said it’s “harrowing” that no one has been caught.
“I do worry that this person is a sick person,” she said. “Was there some way somebody could have helped this person before they hurt my child.”
She added, “I just pray to God he either gives himself up or we apprehend him.”
Police say they have a special 24-hour task force dedicated to the case and are handing out fliers hoping their concerted efforts will lead to an arrest.
Police are also examining grainy surveillance video from the scene of Copeland’s murder and are harvesting DNA samples from both murder weapons."
I apologize since the end of the article may be confusing since a lot of it talks about when the suspect was unknown. However the suspect is now known and Daniel St. Hubert needs to be caught immediately. He allegedly stabbed a 6 and 7-year old in an elevator for no apparent reason. And may have also stabbed an 18-year old teenage girl. This man may not be mentally stable to say the least. Another note is this tragedy has also affected the world of professional sports as Prince Avitto was the cousin of Taj Gibson of the NBA's Chicago Bulls. Once again Anyone with information about St. Hubert is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/04/reward-for-arrest-in-brooklyn-elevator-stabbings-up-to-63k/
www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Police-identify-suspect-in-boy-s-elevator-stabbing-5527510.php
www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-06-02/taj-gibson-cousin-murdered-butcher-knife-stabbed-brooklyn-double-stabbing
www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/justice/new-york-children-stabbed-elevator/