NYC schools employee faces murder charge in Brooklyn jogger's killing
A New York City Department of Education employee is facing a murder charge in the stabbing death of a 28-year-old woman last week in Brooklyn, authorities announced Saturday.
Key points
- Sayed Mohassib, 27, is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of jogger Katie Suarez in Brooklyn.
- Suarez, 28, was stabbed on the Shore Parkway greenway on the evening of Oct. 30 and later died.
- Mohassib is a New York City Department of Education employee who has been suspended, officials said.
A New York City Department of Education employee has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of a 28-year-old woman who was jogging in Brooklyn last week, authorities announced Saturday. Katie Suarez was attacked along the Shore Parkway greenway on the evening of Oct. 30, and her father found her injured on the path.
Suarez was taken to a hospital with a stab wound to her neck and died from her injuries. The NYPD said it arrested 27-year-old Sayed Mohassib of Bath Beach, Brooklyn, who faces charges of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon.
What police have said
Police sources said Mohassib made statements claiming he "blacked out" and does not remember hurting anyone. He was taken in for questioning Friday, and police have not shared details on how they tied him to the crime.
The circumstances leading to Suarez's killing were not immediately clear. Police sources said Mohassib and Suarez both attended Brooklyn College at the same time, but there is currently no evidence that they knew each other.
The safety of our students is our very top priority.
— the Department of Education
Suspect's employment questioned
Police sources said Mohassib worked at Public School 200 in Brooklyn and was a member of the NYPD in field training in the Bronx from October to November 2022. Elected officials said he was employed as a teacher's aide.
The Department of Education said it had suspended the individual and would move to terminate employment pending the outcome of a conviction. Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember-elect Chris McCreight said in a joint statement that his employment at a public school "raises serious questions" and warrants a full investigation into his hiring and continued employment.
