South Carolina man arrested after leaving sleeping 6-year-old daughter in line for Pokémon card release, police say

The NYPD arrested a man Saturday in connection with the brutal stabbing of Katie Suarez, a 28-year-old jogger attacked on a Brooklyn running path last week.

The suspect, Sayed Mohassib, is facing murder charges after he allegedly made statements to police about walking along the Belt Parkway with a knife and claims he blacked out, then woke up later covered in blood, two law enforcement sources familiar with the case said.

The 27-year-old suspect was reportedly tracked down, in part, via surveillance cameras near the path. They observed a male walking back and forth in the area and video led to a barbershop, where sources said investigators were able to obtain the suspect’s ID.

Detectives acquired additional surveillance video near Mohassib’s home, the sources said, where video appears to show him dumping bags of garbage the night of the murder. The NYPD was searching a sanitation barge trying to recover any possible evidence from the garbage that was picked up a few days ago.

Sources said the 27-year-old was former military and served as an NYPD officer for roughly one month’s time before he was dismissed and deemed psychologically unfit from both the military and the NYPD.

According to police, Mohassib worked at P.S. 200 in Bensonhurst. He reportedly returned to work after Suarez’s killing.

“We have suspended this individual and will move to terminate employment pending the outcome of the conviction. We are supporting the NYPD in their investigation however is needed,” a statement from NYC Schools said.

More than two years ago, sources said, in Sept. 2024, Mohassib was picked up by police and taken to Coney Island Hospital to be treated for mental health concerns. According to police sources, his mother and sister told police that Mohassib had threatened to chop them into pieces.

Authorities believe the Oct. 30 stabbing was a random attack. Police said the assailant stabbed Suarez in the neck at least two times as she jogged along the waterfront. Investigators said she was planning on meeting up with her parents along the Shore Park Greenway when she was attacked.

Suarez was found by her father after she failed to meet up to continue the run. Her mother, Yasira Suarez, confirmed her daughter died days later from her injuries.

The shock of the violence, left many tears. 

“Always a smile, sweetheart, saw her just last week, this is ridiculous they have to do something,” said Frank Petralia, who lives in the neighborhood.

“Katie did not deserve something like this,” said Bishop Erick Salgado, who organized the vigil.

The killing has elected officials furious, demanding change. They want new lights in the park, security cameras, and more officers on patrol.

The incident is eerily similar to another random attack in New York City a decade ago. Karina Vetrano went for a run in Howard Beach in 2016; hours later, her father found her dead in Spring Creek Park. The medical examiner ruled her death a strangulation. Her attacker was arrested six months later, was tried and convicted.

“You need people, people that saw something, people that heard something. The more notoriety, the better chance you will have of solving it,” said Vetrano’s father, Phil Vetrano, who offered his assistance in any way to Suarez’s family. “If you need someone to talk to, you can contact me. I am probably the only person who can honestly say I know what you’re going through.”

Investigators want to hear from anyone who noticed something out of the ordinary less than 40 feet off the Belt Parkway, either Friday night or in recent weeks. Police also were looking for any dashcam footage from rideshare or app-based vehicles that were in the area Friday night.

The area where the attack occurred is more remote, giving the NYPD less surveillance video to work with. Police were using license plate readers to identify drivers around when Suarez was stabbed.

Anyone with information regarding this incident can call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by visiting the Crime Stoppers website or on X @NYPDTips.