According to Fox News, on Thursday, November 21st, police arrested 25-year-old Joshua Zinberg. The suspect lives on the Upper West Side of the City and was identified by his mother, who recognized him in the surveillance footage released by police. He has been charged with second-degree attempted murder, first and second-degree assault, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
On Thursday, around noon, Zinberg was leaving the police precinct and in that footage, the 25-year-old can been seen spitting toward reporters during a nonsensical rant. He told reporters, “You do it for the clicks, huh?” Zinberg was arrested after his mother confirmed to police that she recognized her son in the security footage of the unprovoked slashing incident.
In security footage obtained by Fox News Digital, Zinberg can be see running through the streets of the City with a knife in his hand. Authorities had previously confirmed that the 55-year-old tourist was attacked in broad daylight while being outside simply walking. According to police, the tourist’s left ear and left cheek were slashed during the violent attack. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for his injuries.
According to NBC4, a man who has worked in the neighborhood for decades, was the first to point out Zinberg to detectives. He said, “I recognize his personality right away. I didn’t expect him to hold a knife like that. I think he was doing well, but I don’t know what happened.”
The same person said that he spoke to Zinberg’s family after a run-in with him back in 2023. He said, “I called his mother, explained to her how he was reacting. They said, ‘I’m sorry.’ They say he’s (taking) medicine, he’s OK. I saw him growing up, getting a job, working, doing well. I don’t know what happened this time.”
The attack happened around 10:30 a.m. on West 86th Street between Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue. Surveillance footage shows a group of men walking and talking on the sidewalk when a man in a gray T-shirt and shorts runs from behind them, appearing to be holding a knife in his hand. An unidentified neighbor of the area said, “It was completely random. The guy came up behind him and slashed him. After he slashed this man, he almost cut off his ear completely.”
It is unclear what led to the stabbing. Just seconds after the man was seen on video running with a knife, the same man was seen running in the opposite direction while looking over his shoulder. Surveillance video shows Zinberg rush back to his apartment five minutes after the attack. Moments later, he was seen walking out of this building wearing a hat and carrying a gym bag.
Zinberg’s mother said that her son had been working through some mental health issues over the last few years. She also mentioned that the family had been trying to get him some additional help.
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