By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — A U.S. army vet from Harlem has been identified by police as the suspect who stabbed a man to death in front of a Midtown post office branch on Sunday.
The NYPD is now hunting 28-year-old Sirmone McCaulla, who police said was photographed by a German tourist after he fatally stabbed East Village resident Christopher Gutierrez, 20.
In addition to holding a press conference about the attack, the NYPD also distributed McCaulla's picture using Twitter and asked for the public's help in his arrest.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said a police officer recognized McCaulla from having served in the U.S. Army Reserves with him, the New York Post reported.
McCaulla is originally from Brooklyn and lives on Lexington Avenue in Harlem. He served in the Army in Kuwait and wore a military backpack during the attack, police said, which was seen in the German tourist's photograph.
Police said surveillance video captured McCaulla squaring off against Gutierrez in front of the James A. Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue and 33rd Street, across from Madison Square Garden.
Seconds later, McCaulla can be seen making four stabbing motions, then walking away, Kelly said. Police believe the incident was sparked when the men bumped into each other.
Kelly said McCaulla had a criminal record, including an arrest for robbery.
Gutierrez suffered two stab wounds and was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
His funeral will be held Oct. 2 at the Ortiz Funeral Home on the Lower East Side, NY1 reported.
