Riverside Park was closed in 2013 after five people were stabbed.
Julius Graham was sentenced to 23 years in prison for stabbing five people in Riverside Park in the low-60’s on the morning of Oct. 1. The victims included people out for morning walks or runs and a father and his 18-month-old son. Two of the victims were listed in critical condition after the attack; all eventually recovered, though several had severe life-altering injuries.
Graham, who was staying at a homeless shelter in the Bronx at the time, used a broken pair of scissors to begin randomly attack people shortly before 8 a.m. that morning. After he slashed the 18-month-old boy, a passerby jumped on him and held him until police arrived.
Some victims testified before the sentencing, the Times noted.
Before the sentencing, one of the joggers, Deanna Koestel, described the horror she felt when Mr. Graham plunged the scissors into her back several times, puncturing her lung twice and dislocating her shoulder as she fell. A marathon runner, Ms. Koestel said she had three surgeries and months of painful recovery. “Those images and memories will haunt me for a lifetime,” she said.
Graham pleaded guilty to six assaults and prosecutors dropped attempted murder charges.
Good riddance.
Should have been 123 yrs.
Probably be out in 12 years…. The guy stabbed an 18 month old, I can only hope that his peers take care of him when they find out what he’s done.
What a wonderful justice system we have. Gotta love NY. Wonder if he will be out on good behavior.Maybe put him in same cell with that other winner… Mr. Maxwell Hammer.
Jail is the best place for a mentally ill person? What does someone have to do to be declared mentally ill by the courts. He’s homeless and spent the entire day stabbing people for no reason at all!
He should definitely be off the streets but bring back the mental institutions. They have to be more humane than jail for the mentally ill which prisons and guards are not equipped to handle.
One less dirt-bag loose on the street to commit mayhem.
Want to bet this guy is out in five years based on his “good behavior” while he was incarcerated.