Sayed Mohassib Charged in Katie Suarez Murder
Location: Brooklyn, New York Published: November 7, 2026
The New York Police Department arrested Sayed Mohassib, 27, at his Bensonhurst residence on November 7, 2026, charging him with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Brooklyn jogger Katie Suarez, 28, on October 30.
Suarez was attacked at approximately 8:15 p.m. along the Shore Parkway Greenway beside the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Investigators said Suarez’s jewelry and phone remained at the scene, making robbery an unlikely motive.
NYPD detectives connected Mohassib to the killing through surveillance evidence and questioned him at the 62nd Precinct stationhouse. Investigators identified Brooklyn College as the only known connection between Suarez and the suspect.
Surveillance Evidence and Investigative Timeline
Law enforcement sources said Mohassib told NYPD detectives he discarded the knife in a trash receptacle after the attack. He reportedly claimed he suffered a psychological blackout and “woke up later covered in blood”.
Investigators examined surveillance recordings, including footage from a local barbershop, to reconstruct Mohassib’s movements near the Belt Parkway.
Investigators pursued the missing knife through sanitation records and searched disposal sites on Staten Island and in New Jersey.
Previous Employment and Psychiatric Evaluations
Mohassib briefly served as an NYPD officer in 2022 before resigning to join the United States Marine Corps. Law enforcement sources said he was subsequently discharged on psychiatric grounds.
After seeking NYPD reinstatement, Mohassib was rejected following a psychological evaluation and transported to Bellevue Hospital. A September 2024 family complaint involving alleged threats also resulted in psychiatric intervention at Coney Island Hospital.
At the time of the killing, Mohassib worked as a teacher’s aide at P.S. 200 in Bath Beach, approximately three blocks from the waterfront promenade. He reportedly continued working after the attack.
Education Department Suspends Suspect
The New York City Department of Education confirmed Mohassib’s suspension without pay and said termination proceedings were being initiated.
Lawmakers Demand Independent Hiring Investigation
Local lawmakers jointly demanded an independent investigation into the Department of Education’s hiring and screening procedures.
The lawmakers’ demand focuses on whether the Department of Education’s screening procedures identified Mohassib’s previous psychological evaluations and employment history.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting the case. Mohassib faces arraignment in Kings County Criminal Court.
