Stabbing on Upper West Side Leads to Charges of Attempted Murder as Hate Crime

A suspect has been charged in connection with a double stabbing on New York City’s Upper West Side. Raul Morales, 51, faces multiple charges, including attempted murder as a hate crime, according to police reports.

Charges in the Stabbing

Police charged Morales with attempted murder as a hate crime, assault as a hate crime, and criminal possession of a weapon for the attack on Moshe Grunhaus, a 50-year-old Jewish man. In a separate attack on a 57-year-old Asian man, Morales is charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, though not as a hate crime.

Both victims are expected to survive their injuries.

Details of the Incident

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Morales allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks. Morales resides in an apartment near where the stabbings occurred. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home and seized a laptop and a collection of books, including the Quran and a biography of Che Guevara. It remains unclear if these items belong to Morales. Neighbors mentioned that Morales lived with others and typically kept to himself.

Though there is no known history of mental health issues with the NYPD, initial investigations suggest mental health might be a contributing factor.

Morales has a prior criminal record, including two unsealed drug arrests from 1991 and five sealed arrests.

Community Reactions

Rabbi Yosie Levine, from the Jewish Center, expressed shock over Grunhaus’s assault, which occurred just after he had finished praying at the synagogue. Levine has known Grunhaus for ten years and described him as dedicated to the Jewish community. He visited Grunhaus at the hospital, where he was in good spirits surrounded by friends and family.

In 22 years serving as a rabbi, I’ve never visited a stab victim in the hospital. It’s intolerable for such violence to continue.

Grunhaus, who recently moved to Florida, was visiting New York for a short stay when the attack happened.