NEW YORK (WABC) — A Brooklyn grand jury is expected to return an indictment as early as Tuesday against 27-year-old Sayed Mohassib, the man accused of fatally stabbing jogger Katie Suarez.<\/p>\n
Mohassib is charged with second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Suarez’s death.<\/p>\n
Authorities allege Mohassib stabbed the 28-year-old woman on Oct. 30<\/a> while she was running near Shore Parkway and Bay 17th Street in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n Suarez’s family testified before the grand jury Monday.<\/p>\n Mohassib was arrested Saturday. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a teacher’s aide at P.S. 200. The Department of Education suspended him following his arrest and officially terminated his employment Monday.<\/p>\n The case has raised questions among parents and city officials about how Mohassib was allowed to work in a school setting.<\/p>\n According to court documents, Mohassib told detectives he went to the bike path carrying a knife because he believed people were going to kill his family.<\/p>\n His mother told Eyewitness News<\/a> that her son has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals.<\/p>\n Records show Mohassib was first hired by the Department of Education in 2019 as an hourly support staff member. He joined the NYPD in 2022 and later spent a short time in the Marine Corps before leaving. In 2023, he attempted to rejoin the NYPD but was denied and sent to Bellevue Hospital. He was rehired by the Department of Education in 2024 as a substitute teacher’s aide.<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he has directed his administration to conduct a full review of the circumstances surrounding Mohassib’s employment with the city’s school system.<\/p>\n “Nothing is more paramount than the safety of our students,” Mamdani said, adding that counseling and support services are being made available to students and families at the school.<\/p>\n The Department of Education said it conducts background checks on employees and is examining whether its hiring processes can be strengthened. Mohassib remains in custody as the criminal case moves forward.<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n * More Brooklyn news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts<\/a> <\/p>\n * Download our connected TV app<\/a> <\/p>\n
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