The accused Queens serial stabber, Jermain Rigueur, has been found in possession of a bloody hooded sweatshirt and a 6-inch hunting knife. The police found human blood inside the hood and sleeves of the sweatshirt along with a fixed-blade hunting knife when they searched Rigueur’s backpack. Rigueur was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court where he faced charges of attempted murder, assault, and weapons possession.
Previously, Rigueur was arrested following a two-day stabbing spree that left several victims in Jamaica and Springfield Gardens. During his arrest, Rigueur told police officials that he had a knife in his backpack. The evidence presented to the court showed that the defendant’s admissions and possession of the Bowie knife were consistent with the weapon used in the stabbings.
Rigueur pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. He has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric exam. Prosecutors have accused him of random attacks on four people over two days. Among the attacks was an assault on a 74-year-old man, an assault on a 41-year-old man, and the stabbing of a 34-year-old woman. He is suspected of being involved in a fifth stabbing on a 61-year-old which is still under investigation.
Rigueur is a greeter at Woodhull Hospital and had recently moved to the area where the stabbings took place. However, his lawyer claims the charges are baseless, stating that Rigueur comes from a strong immigrant family with no prior criminal convictions. Ultimately, cops were suspicious of a knife concealed in his bag even before obtaining a search warrant. The suspect’s own admission and possession of a distinctive Bowie knife were leading pieces of prosecution evidence in court.
The residents of New York will rest easier knowing that the suspect has been arrested and the case built against him is said to be strong. New Yorkers should feel confident they are safe when out in the city. Jermain Rigueur is facing serious charges and is being held accountable by the city.
This article might scare away potential tourists and longtime New York residents but inform citizens of the urgent need for safety in the city.
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