A 28-year-old woman is fighting for her life after someone stabbed her in the neck while she jogged alone on a Brooklyn waterfront path, and police have not named a suspect or a motive.
Story Highlights
- Police say a 28-year-old jogger was stabbed several times in the neck on the Shore Parkway Greenway in Bath Beach at about 8:15 p.m.
- Investigators found a long trail of blood running from the bike path to the grass where she was found.
- Her father found her badly hurt after she did not come home, according to reports.
- She is in critical condition at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn after surgery.
- Police sources say she was training for the New York City Marathon.
- No arrests have been made, and police have not released a motive or a suspect description.
Police Confirm Critical Stabbing on Brooklyn Waterfront Path
The attack happened on Friday, October 30, at about 8:15 p.m. on the Shore Parkway Greenway, a paved bike and running path that runs along Gravesend Bay beside the Belt Parkway. Police say the 28-year-old woman was running alone near Shore Parkway and Bay 17th Street in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn when she was stabbed several times in the neck. Some reports place the scene a short way along the same path, near Bay Parkway and Cropsey Avenue. Police have not released a motive, and they have not said whether she knew her attacker.
According to reports, her father went out looking for her when he lost contact with her and she did not return home. He found her gravely hurt in a grassy area near the path. Officers also answered a 911 call. Emergency crews rushed her to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. On Saturday, an NYPD spokesperson said she was still alive and in critical condition. She has had surgery, and her injuries are so severe that detectives have not been able to question her. Police have not released her name.
Extensive Search Effort Signals Serious Investigation
Detectives closed the path and widened the crime scene on Saturday. Investigators found a long trail of blood running from the bike path to the grass where she was found. The NYPD sent scuba, aviation, K-9 and drone teams to search the shoreline and the tall grass. Detectives also searched by boat near the water. Police posted a wanted notice in the neighborhood, but they have not released a photo or a description of the attacker. Police have not said whether a weapon was found or whether anything was taken from her.
Runners and cyclists who use the path say it is very dark at night, with few lights or cameras beyond the cars passing on the parkway. Many people use the trail every day for its views of the bay and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. One runner who was turned away by police on Saturday said she always runs with someone and never alone.
A Runner Preparing for Marathon Sunday
Police sources told reporters the woman had been training for the New York City Marathon, which was held on Sunday, November 1. New York Road Runners, the group that puts on the race, said its records show she had run in its events before. The group said it could not confirm whether she planned to run this year. “We were sad to hear of this horrible attack—our hearts are with her family and the running community,” the group said.
For runners and families, the safety steps are simple: stay in well-lit areas, avoid lonely stretches after dark, and run with a partner when you can. A local state senator, a retired police sergeant, has called for more lighting along the path, for trimming the tall grass, and for removing a barrier that blocks drivers on the highway from seeing the area, according to reports.
How the Public Can Help
Police are asking anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. Tips can also be sent online, and all tips are kept private. Neighbors who have video from doorbells, dashboards or businesses near the path around the time of the attack can help detectives build a timeline of who was on the trail that night.
Families want lighted paths, visible patrols and a justice system that puts victims first. As officers work the leads, the focus stays on finding the attacker and keeping safe the New Yorkers who use the waterfront paths every day.
Sources:
foxnews.com, cbsnews.com, amny.com, bronx.news12.com, brooklyn.news12.com, abc7ny.com, fox5ny.com
