New York City Department of Education employee charged with murder in stabbing of jogger

NEW YORK CITY -- A suspect has been arrested and charged with murder in the killing of Katie Suarez, the 28-year-old New York City woman whose fatal stabbing while out for a run in Brooklyn along the Shore Parkway Greenway shocked the city and sparked an intense police investigation.

Police arrested Sayed Mohassib, 27, at his New York City home after detectives developed evidence they say placed him at the scene of the attack. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

According to information obtained by Eyewitness News, Mohassib made statements linking himself to the killing. Police say he told detectives he did not remember the murder but recalled being covered in blood. They also allege he discarded the knife used in the attack, which was later traced to a Staten Island landfill.

Police said the only known connection between Mohassib and Suarez is that both attended Brooklyn College.

Police said the suspect briefly worked for the NYPD in 2022 before resigning to join the Marines. He was later discharged and attempted to return to the NYPD, but was referred to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and did not rejoin the department. Most recently, he was employed as a teacher's aide at P.S. 200 in Bensonhurst.

The city's Department of Education released a statement: "The safety of our students is our very top priority. We have suspended this individual and will move to terminate employment pending the outcome of the arrest. We are supporting the NYPD in their investigation however is needed."

Suarez was attacked while jogging near the Belt Parkway on Oct. 30. The case drew widespread attention after her father found her critically injured when she failed to arrive at a family gathering and stopped responding to calls. She later died from her injuries.

Investigators pursued leads in what was initially believed to be a random attack, conducting extensive searches and repeatedly appealing to the public for help.

This is a developing story.