MoMA stabbing: New York police still searching for man who attacked staff
Video from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City showed the moment a man leaped over a reception desk and stabbed two employees as they tried to flee on Saturday.
The video released by police showed a man identified as 60-year-old Gary Cabana enter the museum lobby through a revolving door then climb onto the desk and jump over it as a man carrying what appeared to be a walkietalkie tried in vain to stop him.
Police were still searching for Cabana as of Sunday morning.
On the video, Cabana, wearing a black wool hat and a surgical mask, approached three employees trapped in the small space and stabbed one of them – a young woman who was able to run away though not before she was stabbed again in the back.
The attacker then stabbed the second employee as the man with the walkie-talkie hurled a notebook at him. That appeared to distract the attacker long enough for the second victim to flee. The third employee could be seen getting up from the ground after the attacker ran away.
Authorities said the two museum employees, a 24-year-old man and 24year-old woman, were stable with nonlife-threatening injuries. Their names weren’t released.
According to police, Cabana was denied entrance to MoMA on Saturday for previous incidents of disorderly conduct. John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said his membership had been revoked for two separate incidents of disorderly behavior in recent days.
A letter informing Cabana of his expired membership was sent out on Friday but he came to the museum Saturday saying he intended to see a film. He became upset and stabbed the museum employees in the back, collarbone and the back of neck, Miller said. They were rushed within minutes to hospital.
Miller said the video showed which way the suspect went after leaving the museum. Police shared photos of
Cabana, asking for the public’s help finding him. The department has no record of a previous arrest.
The museum did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said on social media it would be closed on Sunday.
MoMA evacuated on Saturday. Yuichi Shimada, a museumgoer, said he was on the second floor when a couple came running toward him and he heard security guards’ radios loudly announcing something.
“It was chaotic, partly because it was snowing, with a group of young women in a panic and crying,” Shimada said. “Not being good with claustrophobia myself, I headed for the exit early.”
Shimada was diverted to the side on his way out as a stretcher was brought in. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, thronged outside the museum as dozens of patrons hurried away.
New York’s mayor, Eric Adams, said he had been briefed.
“We’re grateful for the quick work of our first responders,” the former NYPD captain said.