New York City's Museum of Modern Art's patrons were evacuated Saturday afternoon after a man involved in two incidents of disorderly conduct at the museum in recent days stabbed two employees inside the iconic establishment, police said. Was gone, said the police.
Two employees were stabbed in the back, collar bone and back of the neck and taken to Bellevue Hospital within minutes of the attack. During a news conference on Saturday evening, John Miller, the deputy commissioner for intelligence and counter-terrorism, said he received immediate medical help and was expected to survive.
"At about 4:15 pm today, a man entered the museum, presented his membership card, attempted to gain entry and was denied entry because his membership had expired. His membership was terminated because His membership was terminated as a result of two incidents involving disorderly conduct at the museum. On two different dates in recent days," Miller said.
Miller said that upon being denied entry to the museum, the suspect became enraged and then jumped onto the reception desk and stabbed two museum employees several times.
The NYPD is still searching for the suspect, who was identified in a news release Sunday morning as 60-year-old Gary Cabana. Authorities had earlier described him as a man wearing a black jacket and a surgical mask. Their details were immediately issued to division radio units in the area and, according to Miller, a search was launched by responding units in the vicinity of the scene.
The suspect, who is a regular at MoMA, entered the building on Saturday with the intention of attending a film at the iconic landmark. He is known to the NYPD, Miller said, and is wanted by the department in connection with two incidents in midtown Manhattan, where the museum is located, before Saturday's double stabbing. He said the man was caught on video leaving the museum and that the police have instructions for his flight.
"We know the person involved in the incident and we're still trying to trace that person," Miller said. He said the incident is still unfolding and the investigation is in its early stages.
The museum will remain closed for the public on Sunday, it said on social media.
Mayor Eric Adams said he was informed of the incident on Saturday and his press secretary tweeted, "This appears to be an isolated, criminal incident."
"We can report that two victims are being treated at Bellevue Hospital and are expected to survive," Adams tweeted. "We are grateful for the prompt work of our first responders."
Adams asked for the public's help in locating the person, tweeting: "Please continue to avoid the area while the police continue their investigation and if you have any information, please contact the NYPD immediately. Public safety is our top priority." priority."
In the video shared on social media, dozens of people are seen leaving the museum in huge crowd.
"We weren't told what was going on, they just had to call off the demonstrations immediately," MoMA patron Tina Rook told CNN. "One woman said it was an emergency," Rook said, adding that the whole incident was handled very well by the police and museum officials.
NYC's official emergency management agency notified road closures and emergency personnel at the scene near West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, according to a tweet Saturday afternoon.
Miller said there was adequate security in the area at the time of the incident but described it as a "spontaneous fast-paced incident".
The incident at the famous New York Museum came as the city experienced a relentless wave of violent crime this year.
Mayor Eric Adams has begun implementing his comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence and crime in the city. Part of the plan involves reviving the NYPD's controversial anti-crime unit. Neighborhood security teams will be tasked with patrolling high-crime neighborhoods starting Monday.
The city recorded a 41% increase in overall major crimes in the first months of 2022 compared to the same period last year, including a nearly 54% increase in robberies, a 56% increase in grand theft incidents and a 22 percent increase in rapes. % increase is included. , shows the data.
Adams unveiled his "Blueprint to End Gun Violence" in January, which includes long-term goals of developing economic opportunities, improving child education, and providing greater access to mental health resources while addressing the gun crisis.