Sayed Mohassib, the classroom paraprofessional accused of murdering 28-year-old jogger Katie Suarez in New York City, allegedly returned to work the following Monday and taught young children at a Brooklyn primary school “like nothing happened” before his arrest nearly a week later.
Police sources said they believe Mohassib went to work as normal the day after the October 30 killing, teaching at The Benson School in Brooklyn. He was arrested on Saturday, November 7, according to the same sources.
Alleged mental health episodes and background
The New York Post reported that Mohassib, 27, had a series of mental health episodes, including an incident in which he reportedly killed a family pet when he was younger. His mother previously told police that Mohassib had killed a family cat or dog.
Mohassib was a New York City police officer for several weeks in autumn 2022 before leaving the NYPD to join the US Marines. He was rejected from military service and refused re-entry with the police in January 2023 because he appeared “disheveled,” sources added.
Details of the alleged attack
Police allege Mohassib stabbed Suarez twice in the neck as she jogged along a Brooklyn promenade. He was identified using facial-recognition CCTV cameras that traced footage of him entering and leaving the area of the killing to his government ID.
Suarez's father went looking for his daughter after she failed to arrive at a pre-planned meeting with her parents. He found her wounded, and she later died in hospital, NBC News reports.
School response and custody
An Education Department spokesperson said in a statement: “The safety of our students is our very top priority. We have suspended this individual and will move to terminate employment pending the outcome of the conviction. We are supporting the NYPD in their investigation however is needed.”
Mohassib is now in custody.
