Cops shoot man as he stabs his wife

Posted

The stairwell of a walk-up building on Sedgwick Avenue has been wiped clean of the puddles of blood. But a single apartment door is still smeared with blood stains bearing mute witness to what transpired on Sunday.

Police and witnesses say Juan Rosario, 34, repeatedly stabbed his wife in the early hours of Aug. 17. She frantically banged on neighbors’ doors as blood gushed from her body and she tried to escape her knife-wielding husband.

Two officers called to the scene at 2741 Sedgwick Ave. said they ordered Mr. Rosario to drop his kitchen knife. But authorities said when he continued to stab his 32-year-old wife, the police opened fire on the man, wounding him in the abdomen.

Deputy Inspector Paul Rasa, the commanding officer of the 50th Precinct, declined to comment. But a police spokesman said authorities will likely charge Mr. Rosario with attempted murder, assault and possession of a weapon, among other crimes, once he is no longer in critical condition.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene on Sunday morning.

“After the gunshots, it was over,” said Lenice Smalls, 59, who has lived in the building for four years. “I came outside and there was blood everywhere. It was too much going on.”

The victim, whose name was not released, was stabbed about 30 times before she was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital. She is in stable condition, according to police. 

Mr. Rosario, who is in police custody, was also taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, police said. 

Some tenants of the large apartment complex heard the victim crying out for help early in the morning as she pounded on their doors. But they said they were terrified and thought the attacker might have had a gun. 

“She was screaming, ‘Somebody help me!’’’ said Tasha Smith, 30. “He was yelling erratically and you couldn’t understand what he was saying. He sounded like a maniac.”

Bernada Figueroa, 75, who lives on the first floor, said that when she tried to open her door, police slammed it back, but she managed to see the victim naked on the floor of the lobby with blood all over her as police stood by. 

Crime, Domestic Violence, Juan Rosario, Kingsbridge Heights, 50th Precinct, Shooting, Stabbing, Assault, Attempted Murder, Sedgwick Avenue, Tanisia Morris
Page 1 / 2