A group in Brooklyn gathered collectively to mourn a 28-year-old runner discovered stabbed within the neck on a quiet bike path, and to do something they will to assist catch her killer.
A way of loss introduced almost 100 folks collectively in Bathtub Seashore Wednesday evening for a vigil honoring Katie Suarez, who was attacked as she ran alongside Shore Parkway on Friday evening.
Authorities imagine it was a random assault. Police mentioned the assailant, who was nonetheless unknown, stabbed Suarez within the neck no less than two instances as she jogged alongside the waterfront. Investigators mentioned she was planning on assembly up together with her dad and mom alongside the Shore Park Greenway when she was attacked.
Suarez was discovered by her father after she failed to satisfy as much as proceed the run. Her mom, Yasira Suarez, confirmed her daughter died days later from her accidents.
The shock of the violence, left many tears.
“At all times a smile, sweetheart, noticed her simply final week, that is ridiculous they need to do one thing,” mentioned Frank Petralia, who lives within the neighborhood.
“Katie didn’t deserve one thing like this,” mentioned Bishop Erick Salgado, who organized the vigil.
The killing has elected officers livid, demanding change. They need new lights within the park, safety cameras, and extra officers on patrol.
Whereas the group seems to do no matter they will to assist catch the attacker, detectives nonetheless do not actually have a description to work off. They’ve requested the general public for assist.
No particulars have been made publicly accessible relating to a possible suspect. The NYPD urges anybody who noticed uncommon exercise close to the operating and bike path or the close by Belt Parkway to assist investigators.
The group additionally known as on the NYPD to extend the reward related to catching the killer. As of Wednesday, the reward was at $10,000 for data resulting in an arrest; the group known as for it to be elevated to $50,000.
NYPD
NYPD Police mentioned stabbing sufferer Katie Suarez had remained in grave situation Sunday evening. Police shared a photograph of her in hopes of gaining suggestions within the seek for her attacker.
The incident is eerily just like one other random assault in New York Metropolis a decade in the past. Karina Vetrano went for a run in Howard Seashore in 2016; hours later, her father discovered her useless in Spring Creek Park. The health worker dominated her demise a strangulation. Her attacker was arrested six months later, was tried and convicted.
“You want folks, folks that noticed one thing, folks that heard one thing. The extra notoriety, the higher likelihood you’ll have of fixing it,” mentioned Vetrano’s father, Phil Vetrano, who supplied his help in any method to Suarez’s household. “When you want somebody to speak to, you possibly can contact me. I’m in all probability the one one that can actually say I do know what you’re going by means of.”
Investigators need to hear from anybody who seen one thing out of the unusual lower than 40 toes off the Belt Parkway, both Friday evening or in current weeks. Police additionally had been in search of any dashcam footage from rideshare or app-based automobiles that had been within the space Friday evening.
The realm the place the assault occurred is extra distant, giving the NYPD much less surveillance video to work with. Police had been utilizing license plate readers to establish drivers round when Suarez was stabbed.
Anybody with data relating to this incident can name the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The general public may submit suggestions by visiting the Crime Stoppers web site or on X @NYPDTips.
