Cop Recognizes Midtown Stabbing Suspect

Photograph of stabbing suspect from the NYPD

Yesterday, police released photographs of the man suspected of a fatal stabbing on the steps of the James Farley Post Office on Sunday. The broad daylight incident in a busy stretch of 8th Avenue—across from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station—was witnessed by a number of people, including a German tourist who took the photographs. And now it seems another police officer recognizes the suspect.

WABC 7 reports, "Eyewitness News is told an NYPD officer unrelated to the case happened to see the photos and identified the suspect. The officer had 'previous contact' with the suspect, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said this morning. Detectives are now searching for the man and anticipate making an arrest soon." The violent incident apparently started when Christopher Gutierrez, 20, and the man bumped into each other and argued. According to the Post, "the perp flew into a rage, law-enforcement sources said. Realizing he dropped his phone during his attack, the killer then went back for it before strolling off again, blending into the crowd." The attack was caught by an NYPD surveillance camera as well.

Gutierrez, who grew up in the Bronx, had recently found work at a grocery store stock boy. His grieving mother Edith Gutierrez wondered to the NY Times, "How can you go and kill somebody because they push you? You have no heart. You are a monster." His brother told WCBS 2, "I'm really hurt that he had to go and everything. He has to learn to keep his mouth shut like me. I avoid a lot of problems like that."

Update: Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the suspect is Sirmone McCaulla, 28. The Post reports, "McCaulla is a 28-year-old veteran from Brooklyn who served in Kuwait - which would explain his carrying a US Army issue camouflage backpack, Kelly said."

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By Jen Chung in News on September 29, 2009 10:25 AM

Comments [rss]

pudeljung

i coulda swore I saw this guy today in Harlem, and I called 911. Cops not particularly interested in my story. Big surprise! I did get a call back, they sent someone to the location, didn't find him, and told me to have a nice day.

Damn I was close!

I'd love to know if he gets netted.

Snoopy

I don't believe "black" is a nationality, similar to Jews not being a race.

They are kind of sort of, but not in the true dictionary sense.

fixer

watching this morning's times wriggle out of giving any kind of descriptive description of the perp was simultaneously laughable and sad. i'm not saying to describe him as 'black' or anything else -- but you can describe his hair, his skin color irrespective of nationality, etc. how are we supposed to find the guy??

Snoopy

Oops sorry it's spelled Escalade I think.

derektut

Why are most criminals on Facebook?

GOP

I would say MySpace.

ProcedureTurn

Why are most criminals black. Ill eatch out for this guy.

Snoopy

Good description of the perp. How unusual.

nicemarmot

He went back for his fucking phone and no one grabbed him??? Jesus Christ!

PTG in nyc

So I take it you would have tackled the probably psychotic and definitely violent perp? Give me a break

Spirit of 76

I'll admit I'm not the bravest man in the world when it comes to armed lunatics. If I'd seen the crime, I might have discreetly tailed the suspect from a safe distance, telling 911 his location and movement.

GOP

Riiiiiight.

Spirit of 76

What exactly is that supposed to mean? Are you saying you're another Internet tough guy who swears he would have jumped the suspect? Or are you saying you wouldn't have done anything at all?

S.D.

Would you grab someone who just brutally stabbed a man to death?

al_fredo

Pretty good quality and quick thinking photo taking, btw (even if it's not a straight on shot). Come to think of it, i'm surprised there aren't more pictures.