Who is Sayed Mohassib? Suspect in jogger’s stabbing had NYPD career
Sayed Mohassib, 27, the man charged with the fatal stabbing of Brooklyn jogger Katie Suarez, previously served as a New York City police officer before resigning from the department in December 2022, according to official city employment records.
His brief tenure with the New York Police Department (NYPD) has come under scrutiny following his arrest over the October 30 killing of Suarez, 28, who was stabbed while jogging along the Shore Parkway Greenway in Bath Beach, Brooklyn.
Mohassib was arrested on November 7 and charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence.
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Sayed Mohassib’s Brief NYPD Career
A Facebook profile under Mohassib’s name lists him as single and identifies the High School of Telecommunications Arts and Technology, CUNY Brooklyn College and the NYPD Police Academy among his educational institutions.The profile has not been independently authenticated as belonging to the defendant.
Mohassib joined the NYPD in October 2022 but resigned just two months later to pursue military service. A March 14, 2023, entry in the city’s official City Record lists a Sayed S. Mohassib as a police officer who resigned effective December 17, 2022. The entry gives his annual salary as $42,500.
He later sought to rejoin the department, but his application was reportedly rejected following a psychological evaluation.
Newsweek contacted the NYPD and U.S Marines via email on Sunday for comment.
From the Marines to a Brooklyn School
After leaving the NYPD, Mohassib went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps before reportedly being discharged on psychiatric grounds.
Mohassib was taken by police to Coney Island Hospital in September 2024 for a mental-health evaluation, according to law enforcement sources. His mother and sister had allegedly told officers that he threatened to “chop them into pieces.”
Before his arrest on November 7, Mohassib was working as a school aide at P.S. 200 in Bath Beach, Brooklyn. He remained employed at the elementary school after the October 30 stabbing.
The Department of Education confirmed that Mohassib had been suspended following his arrest.
In a statement, a DOE spokesperson said: “The safety of our students is our very top priority. We have suspended this individual and will move to terminate employment pending the outcome of the conviction. We are supporting the NYPD in their investigation however is needed.”
Newsweek contacted the Department of Education via email on Sunday for comment.
Politicians Call for Investigation Into DOE Hiring
Three southern Brooklyn elected officials have called for an investigation into how Mohassib was hired by the city’s Department of Education and remained employed at a public school.
Council Member Kayla Santosuosso, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member-elect Chris McCreight issued a joint statement calling for a full review of the circumstances surrounding his employment.
The officials said Mohassib’s employment with the DOE “raises serious questions about how he came to be employed in a public school and warrants a full investigation into the circumstances of his hiring and continued employment.”
What Is Mohassib Accused Of?
Mohassib’s arrest followed an investigation into the stabbing of Suarez.
As reported by Newsweek, she was found seriously injured by her father, who had gone looking for her after she failed to arrive at an agreed meeting point.
Suarez was taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where she later died from her injuries.
Investigators spent several days searching for the attacker, examining the surrounding area and reviewing available surveillance footage which helped track and identify Mohassib.
Police sources said Mohassib told investigators he had been walking along the waterfront carrying a knife, but subsequently blacked out and woke up covered in blood.
What Prosecutors Said About the Evidence
Further details emerged during Mohassib’s appearance in Brooklyn Criminal Court on November 7.
Prosecutors told the court that investigators found Suarez’s blood splattered on the walls of Mohassib’s Bensonhurst apartment, as reported by The New York Post. Assistant District Attorney Jordan Rossman reportedly told the hearing that Mohassib had said he tried to clean up the blood.
Prosecutors also said he had made admissions and that video recordings supported the allegations against him but did not publicly establish a motive for the killing during the hearing.
Mohassib remained largely silent during the proceedings, speaking briefly to correct the judge’s pronunciation of his name.
His lawyer, Edward Mandery, requested that his client be placed in protective custody, citing concerns about his safety amid intense media attention.
The judge ordered Mohassib held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 10.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.
