A wake and visitation for Brooklyn jogger Katie Suarez will take place Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cusimano & Russo Funeral Home in Gravesend. The 28‑year‑old was fatally stabbed while running along the Shore Parkway Greenway last month.
Friends and family will gather to honor Suarez’s memory, followed by a Funeral Mass Thursday at St. Simon & Jude Roman Catholic Church and interment at Green‑Wood Cemetery.
Legal proceedings
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the recent indictment of 27‑year‑old Sayed Mohassib on a second‑degree murder charge marks an “important step toward securing justice.” Mohassib, a former teacher’s aide at P.S. 200, was arrested Saturday and subsequently terminated by the Department of Education.
According to court documents, Mohassib told detectives he carried a knife because he feared for his family’s safety. His mother has previously indicated he has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals.
Community safety concerns
City officials and community advocates gathered Tuesday to demand improved lighting and safety measures along the 1.3‑mile waterfront path where the attack occurred. Council Member Kayla Santosuosso urged the city to “demand more lighting and a safer promenade” to prevent future tragedies.
While officials noted it is unclear whether additional lighting would have stopped the stabbing, they agreed that any reasonable safety enhancements should be pursued.
Ongoing investigation
Mohassib remains in custody as the criminal case proceeds. The incident has sparked broader questions among parents and city leaders about how a school employee was allowed to work in a classroom setting.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
