On the morning of November 18, 2024, a 68-year-old Chinese man was fishing at 500 East 30th Street in Manhattan when he was stabbed by a mentally ill homeless person. Despite rescue efforts, he was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. The following day, residents of the Chinatown community revealed that the victim was from Fuzhou. While his specific identity remains unknown, concerns were raised about the public safety situation in Roosevelt Park where Fuzhou people often gather.
Residents of Chinatown, including Mr. Lin, a Fuzhou immigrant living on Madison Street, shared their experiences following the incident. Mr. Lin and his friends went for a stroll at the southern end of Roosevelt Park where he learned from a Chinese newspaper about the stabbing incident involving the mentally ill suspect attacking three people, including a Chinese man fishing. He observed an increase in the homeless population in the community, making him reluctant to go out past 5 p.m.
According to Mr. Lin, the number of homeless individuals in Roosevelt Park on the day of the incident was slightly lower than usual as the police had already dispersed some of them earlier. However, he mentioned that the authorities are facing challenges in dealing with the homeless issue. Despite relocating the homeless individuals, they often reappear in another part of the park, leading to persistent problems. Conflicts arising from alcohol, drugs, or disputes among the homeless frequently result in violence, endangering lives. Mr. Lin recalled witnessing an incident where a drug-overdosed homeless person was resuscitated by emergency responders but eventually succumbed, contributing to several deaths in the park this year.
Having immigrated to the United States for 30 years, Mr. Lin noticed not only the presence of transient homeless individuals but also cases of violent crimes involving homeless Chinese immigrants due to disputes. He mentioned a recent incident at New China Supermarket where a homeless Chinese person was killed by another homeless individual. The perpetrator suspected the victim of stealing his shoes and, despite facing hardship himself, committed the deadly act out of resentment. The suspect fled to Washington D.C. after the crime but was captured by law enforcement due to a surveillance camera capturing him without a mask while withdrawing money.
The victim hailed from Tingjiang, Fuzhou, while the suspect was from Changle, Fuzhou. Mr. Lin expressed his sorrow over the loss of life due to a trivial altercation. He emphasized that many homeless individuals suffer from severe mental health issues, exacerbated by their challenging living conditions and psychological stress, leading to extreme behavior.
Moreover, Mr. Lin revealed the prevalent incidents of robbery in the area, citing an example of a fellow villager who was recently robbed and injured by homeless individuals while closing his stall after dark and is currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
“In this season, I make sure to return home by 5 p.m. every day, not daring to stay out too long,” stated Mr. Lin. He emphasized the increasing severity of the homeless issue, urging everyone to remain vigilant.