Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Police Release Footage Of Suspect In Midtown Tourist Stabbing
By
Gaby Del Valle
Published Dec 22, 2016
Modified Dec 22, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Gaby Del Valle
Published Dec 22, 2016
Modified Dec 22, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Police have released surveillance images of the man they suspect stabbed a tourist in the head last weekend in Midtown.
Connor Rasmussen, of Washington state, was out celebrating his recent engagement with friends on Saturday night—he had traveled to the city to propose to his girlfriend in Central Park. Around 1:45 a.m., police said, 23-year-old Rasmussen was stabbed in the back of the head by a man wielding a steak knife at the corner of 46th Street and Vanderbilt Avenue.
"I never heard the guy, I never heard anything—next thing you know, I'm just getting hit," Rasmussen told CBS New York. He added that he locked eyes with the suspect before both he and the stabber ran in opposite directions. "As I'm running, I'm freaking out," Rasmussen said. "I pull my hand out and look—it's a freaking knife, like a steak knife in my hand that I just pulled from my head."
Rasmussen told ABC7 that he believed the assault may have been a robbery attempt—but his friend Ryan Asher, who witnessed the attack, told the Daily News that the assailant "didn't even reach for my friend's purse." In addition to stabbing Rasmussen in the head, the attacker attempted to punch one of his friends and left her with scratches on her face.
Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital after reporting the incident to police. Rasmussen got eight stitches, ABC7 reports, but did not sustain serious injuries. His grandmother Linda Colon told the News, "If it would have been an inch or two on either side, from what the doctors said, it would have killed him."
Rasmussen has since returned to Washington.
Police described the stabber as male, around 5'10" tall. He was last seen wearing a black skullcap, black sweatpants, black sneakers, and a black Nike hoodie with white stripes and "Jordan" written on the sleeve.
Surveillance footage recently released by the NYPD shows the suspect heading into the 47-50 Street Rockefeller Center subway station around 1:46 a.m. on Sunday.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.
Tagged
midtown
stabbing
steak knife
tourist
Gaby Del Valle
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .