Mayor Adams Blames ‘Failed’ System After Man Accused of Stabbing Spree in Manhattan

Suspect in custody after five people stabbed in broad daylight near Museum of Modern Art

NYC Mayor Eric Adams says the incident is a ‘failure’ of the mental health system

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has blamed a “failed” mental health system after a man was arrested in connection with a stabbing spree in Manhattan that left five people injured.

The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Roland Codrington, was taken into custody shortly after the attacks, which occurred near the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday afternoon.

According to police, Codrington allegedly stabbed five people at random, including a 44-year-old woman who was seriously injured. The other victims, ranging in age from 19 to 67, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Adams: ‘We have a broken mental health system’

Speaking at a press conference after the incident, Mayor Adams said the attacks were a “failure” of the mental health system and called for more investment in mental health services.

“We have a broken mental health system in this city and in this country,” Adams said. “We have to do a better job of providing people with the help they need before they reach a point of crisis.”

Adams said the suspect in the stabbing spree had a history of mental illness and had been in and out of the mental health system for years.

Suspect has history of mental illness

According to police, Codrington has been arrested multiple times in the past, including for assault and criminal mischief.

Sources say Codrington was most recently released from a psychiatric hospital in January after being treated for schizophrenia.

Experts say that people with schizophrenia are more likely to experience homelessness, unemployment, and poverty, and are also more likely to be victims of violence.

Need for more mental health services

Advocates for the mentally ill say that the incident highlights the need for more investment in mental health services, including more funding for community-based programs and more affordable housing for people with mental illness.

“We need to do a better job of reaching people with mental illness before they reach a point of crisis,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, chair of the department of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center.

“We need to provide them with the help they need to stay stable and out of the criminal justice system.”