NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A man from Queens was indicted on Friday for attempted murder and other charges related to a stabbing spree earlier this month that injured three people, one of which was left in critical condition, the Queens District Attorney's Office said.
Kareem Phillips, 31, of Woodside was arraigned on an 11-count indictment that charges him with two counts of second-degree attempted murder along with assault, attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon charges.
Phillips is accused of launching a knife attack against three people on March 16. He allegedly approached the victims in his wheelchair and stabbed them, causing various levels of injury.
At about 12:20 p.m. on the day of the attack, Phillips maneuvered his wheelchair behind a 56-year-old man who was exiting his parked car and is accused of stabbing the man in the back.
According to the charges, the victim turned around and saw Phillips with a knife, prompting him to run with Phillips in pursuit. The 56-year-old made it to his friend's building and the friend called 911.
Ten minutes later, Phillips noticed a 46-year-old female jogger running past him. As she passed, Phillips allegedly approached in his wheelchair and slashed a knife across the victim's arm, causing her to bleed.
The 46-year-old required stitches for her wound, and reported the incident to her at a local police precinct after treatment.
The final attack came a single minute later, at 12:31 p.m., when Phillips began to follow a third victim.
A 69-year-old woman was crossing the street at 31st Avenue and 54th Street when the defendant allegedly grabbed her arm, causing her to fall to the ground. Once down, he is accused of punching the woman in the face and then stabbing her in both the face and stomach.
The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police responded to the intersection and found Phillips swinging two kitchen knives, prosecutors said. He threw a knife at one officer, who saw that it was covered in what appeared to be blood.
"Within the span of just a few minutes, the defendant is alleged to have attacked three people and could have taken their lives. These attacks were unprovoked," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
If convicted, Phillips faces up to 65 years in prison. He is expected to return to court on April 25.
