Portraits are beginning to emerge of the three victims killed in a stabbing rampage in Manhattan on Monday, shedding light on the lives lost and the impact on their loved ones.
The deadly series of attacks, allegedly carried out by 51-year-old Ramon Rivera, took place across different parts of the city, leaving the victims' families and communities grappling with heartbreak and unanswered questions.
The first victim, Angel Landi, was a 36-year-old construction worker from Ecuador, who was reportedly on his way to work when he was fatally stabbed on West 19th Street at approximately 8:30 a.m.
Landi’s sister, Berta Landi, spoke out in court on Tuesday, holding a photograph of her brother and calling for justice. "I need justice for my brother, I don't want his death to be in vain," she said, expressing the anguish and sorrow of losing a sibling in such a violent and senseless manner.
Described as a hardworking, responsible, and friendly individual, Landi was remembered for always being willing to help others in need. His sister’s statement reflects the deep sense of loss felt by his family, with many in the neighborhood where he lived expressing their condolences as well.
A memorial of flowers and candles now stands in the spot where he was killed, with neighbors, though strangers, coming together to honor his life and offer prayers for his grieving family.
Alexis Scher, a local resident, expressed solidarity with Landi’s family, stating, "Although we don't know them, we want them to know we're here in solidarity and are going to help them fight for justice."
Just hours after Landi’s death, Rivera allegedly went on to kill two more victims. At approximately 10 a.m., he fatally stabbed 67-year-old Chang Wang, who had been fishing on East 30th Street.
A single candle now marks the location where Wang’s life was taken. The community has been left reeling by this senseless violence, and neighbors have expressed disbelief over the attacks. The grief of Wang’s family is compounded by the randomness and brutality of his death.
Shortly after, Rivera allegedly attacked his final victim, 36-year-old Wilma Augustin, on East 42nd Street near the U.N. Augustin, who had been living at a migrant shelter, was a mother to an 8-year-old child.
Her death has sparked deep concern, especially for the child who must now grapple with the trauma of losing a parent in such a horrific way. "How do you explain to that child what happened?"
Mayor Eric Adams questioned, highlighting the failures in the system to address mental health issues and the needs of those living on the streets. "This is the failure of our unwillingness to face the problem."
In the aftermath of the attacks, there has been an outpouring of frustration and grief, particularly directed at the city’s inability to adequately address mental health crises.
Rivera, who was known to have a history of mental illness, had been freed multiple times despite prior low-level criminal offenses. This has ignited a public conversation about the need for reform in the city’s approach to dealing with mentally ill individuals who are at risk of harming themselves or others.
Mayor Adams has promised to make legislation a priority that would strengthen the power to involuntarily remove troubled homeless people from the streets, a measure that advocates argue is necessary to prevent further tragedies.
The deaths of Landi, Wang, and Augustin have brought to light deeper systemic issues that affect vulnerable individuals in the city. The victims are remembered not just for their tragic deaths but for the lives they led, and their families, neighbors, and communities continue to demand justice and reform.
