Overview

• On June 16, 37-year-old Jonathan Wohl lunged at uniformed court officers in the lobby of Manhattan Criminal Court with a curved knife, wounding five staff members.
• He was arraigned on June 17, charged with three counts of attempted murder and assault, and ordered held without bail at Rikers Island.
• Investigators recovered a notebook and scraps of paper filled with anti-system writings, including the slogan “Give me liberty or give me death,” which they say point to premeditation.
• Court officials reported that Wohl, who had no hearing scheduled that day, was known for repeated clashes with officers over the past two years.
• The attack has renewed calls from the New York State Court Officers Association and others for enhanced security measures and staffing reviews in courthouses.