NYC DOE employee arrested in fatal stabbing of Brooklyn jogger

The New York City Department of Education has suspended a teacher's aide following his arrest for the murder of a 28-year-old jogger in Brooklyn. The department said it will move to terminate his employment pending the outcome of his trial.

Katie Suarez was stabbed along the Shore Parkway greenway on the evening of October 30. Her father discovered her injured on the path and rushed her to a hospital, where she later died from her wounds. Police announced the arrest of Sayed Mohassib on Saturday. He is 27 and resides in Brooklyn.

Mohassib is charged with second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and criminal possession of a weapon. Investigators have not yet released details regarding the circumstances of the attack or the specific evidence that led to his identification. The suspect worked for the city's Department of Education as a teacher's aide in a public school.

A joint statement from City Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assemblymember-elect Chris McCreight described Mohassib as a mentally disturbed man with no prior criminal record. The officials noted that he was a former NYPD officer and Marine who was discharged on psychiatric grounds. They said his employment in a local public school warrants a full investigation into his hiring and continued tenure.

The Department of Education stated that student safety is its top priority and that it is supporting the NYPD investigation. The killing prompted a wide search across the city. Yasira Suarez, the victim's mother, spoke to the media earlier this week, telling investigators that they had taken an angel.

The next step in the case is the formal review of Mohassib's charges by the district attorney's office. The suspect remains in custody while the department processes the termination of his civil service status.