A migrant was injured in a stabbing incident just outside a shelter on Randall’s Island, according to police reports. The 26-year-old victim was stabbed in the stomach around 10:30 a.m. at Field 82 on the island, near tents used by migrants at the complex. He was identified as a migrant and taken to Harlem Hospital in stable condition for treatment.
The details surrounding the altercation that led to the stabbing were not clear, and authorities had not made any arrests yet. A man with a light complexion and dressed in dark clothing was reported to have fled the scene after the incident.
This incident adds to a series of violent events that have occurred at the mega tent shelter on Randall’s Island, which is currently home to thousands of asylum seekers. Just two weeks prior, a Venezuelan migrant mother, Sandra Serrano, was fatally shot in the face and back by a shooter on a moped at Lot 71 on the island. Two other individuals were also injured in the shooting and were hospitalized in stable condition.
The NYPD had previously cracked down on the use of mopeds and scooters by migrants, suspecting some involvement in criminal activities. The circumstances leading to the clash and subsequent violence in this recent stabbing incident were still unclear.
Prior to this incident, there have been reports of other violent outbreaks at the shelter site. In June, a brawl erupted between different migrant groups, resulting in multiple arrests. In April, five men were charged with assault after a fight broke out, leaving one asylum seeker with a stab wound and four security guards injured. Additionally, in January, a migrant lost his life in a stabbing incident over a dispute involving a woman, leading to three arrests by the police.
The safety and security of migrants at the Randall’s Island shelter have been a growing concern, with law enforcement agencies working to address and prevent further violent incidents. Authorities continue to investigate the recent stabbing and are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the case.
