A Shock on the Upper West Side: A Hate‑Crime Stabbing and Its Consequences
A 51‑year‑old man, Raul Morales, was taken into custody after a series of violent incidents that rattled the Upper West Side.
Timeline of Violence
- First attack – Morales stabbed an Asian man on W. 84th St.
- Second attack – Minutes later, he used a screwdriver to wound a Jewish man near a synagogue on Amsterdam Ave.
- In both scenes, Morales shouted “Allahu Akbar” repeatedly.
Legal Fallout
Initially, prosecutors charged him only for the Jewish victim’s assault.
During a Manhattan Criminal Court appearance, the District Attorney upgraded both incidents to hate‑crime charges.
A guilty verdict could impose a maximum of 40 years in prison.
The Standoff
After the second attack, a UPS driver heard Morales shouting and followed him to his apartment on Amsterdam Ave.
- Morales locked himself in an 11th‑floor unit.
- Officers spent ~50 minutes negotiating before searching the premises.
- Inside, they found:
- Clothing used during the attacks
- Two Qurans
- A Jehovah’s Witness Bible
- A book of Karl Marx
During transport, Morales shouted about “Sandra and Lilian Romero.” The identities remain unclear; the NYPD suggested possible mental‑health issues despite no prior department history.
Victims
Both victims were rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital:
- The Asian man survived a knife wound in his back and required surgery.
- The Jewish man received treatment for a chest injury.
Neighbors described both as quiet, respected community members—making the attacks all the more unsettling.
Background
Morales has prior convictions:
- Two drug‑possession arrests in 1991
- A prison sentence in the mid‑1990s
His current case introduces severe charges that could lead to a lengthy incarceration.
