NYC Mayor Urges State Action Following Fatal Stabbing Spree

Mayor Eric Adams calls for expanded involuntary hospitalization laws after three murders by a mentally ill homeless man.

Three individuals were killed in a stabbing spree in Manhattan, allegedly by Ramon Rivera, a homeless man with a history of mental illness and arrests.
Mayor Adams is advocating for the Supportive Interventions Act, which would allow for involuntary hospitalization of the mentally ill, but the bill has stalled in Albany.
Rivera, the suspect, had been arrested multiple times and was recently released from prison, highlighting gaps in the mental health and criminal justice systems.
Adams emphasized the need for state support to implement more effective mental health interventions and prevent similar tragedies.
State lawmakers have proposed new legislation to empower healthcare professionals to assess individuals for involuntary hospitalization, addressing the shortage of psychiatric beds.