Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Stuy Town Man Stabbed and Paralyzed by Man He Met on Craigslist, Police Say

 A 70-year-old man was stabbed in his Stuy Town apartment, police said.
A 70-year-old man was stabbed in his Stuy Town apartment, police said.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Heather Holland

STUYVESANT TOWN — A 70-year-old Stuy Town man was left paralyzed after he was stabbed twice and robbed by a man he met on Craigslist, NYPD said.

Arpad West, 21, knifed the Stuy Town resident once in the back of the head and again in the neck inside of the victim’s 20th Street apartment at 8:11 a.m. on Dec. 16, leaving the victim permanently paralyzed in his lower body, police said.

West had met the victim through Craigslist previously and was visiting him in his apartment on the evening of the attack, a source said. 

As West was stabbing the victim, he said, "I am going to kill you. Give me your PIN number. I want you dead," according to a criminal complaint from the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

West then left the victim bleeding and stole his phone and credit card, which West later used to try to withdraw $500.

When emergency responders arrived, the victim was unable to move his arms and legs. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital Center, where he had to undergo surgery for damage to his spinal cord and carotid artery, according to the complaint.

West was arrested two weeks later on Jan. 2, and police found that he was carrying a credit card that did not belong to him and was not the victim's. He was charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of stolen property, robbery and grand larceny, according to the DA's office.

A temporary order of protection was issued. West was being held at Rikers Island as of Wednesday and bail was set at $50,000 bond and $15,000 cash.

Police used surveillance video from Stuy Town to identify West, according to the complaint.

“[Stuy Town’s] public safety cooperated fully with the NYPD’s investigation and helped to identify the suspect by providing video surveillance footage,” Stuy Town management spokesman Brian Moriarty said.

West is due back in court on Jan. 8. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.