A brutal stabbing in Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan’s Lower East Side has left one man dead and another seriously injured. The incident occurred on Thursday night, November 16, 2023.

At around 8:30 pm, a dispute between two groups of men escalated into a violent confrontation. According to police, a group of four men had a fight with two others near an athletic field in the park near the intersection of Broome Street and Delancey Street. The fight turned deadly when one member of the larger group brandished a knife, stabbing a 24-year-old man in the chest and another man, also 24, in the torso.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) responded after receiving reports of the incident. The two male victims were found with severe stab wounds. They were immediately transported to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. However, the man with the chest wound was pronounced dead upon arrival. The identity of the deceased is being withheld until his family can be notified. The second victim is reported to be in stable condition and expected to survive.

The NYPD has not made any arrests in connection with the stabbing. The investigation is ongoing, with police actively searching for the four male suspects believed to be involved. Witnesses reported that the assailants and victims appeared to be homeless individuals, with one attacker seen wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey and another carrying a Honduran flag.

Sara D. Roosevelt Park, a 7.8-acre public green space named after the mother of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been a longstanding community landmark since its establishment in 1934. However, in recent years, the park has become notorious for its struggles with crime, drug use, and a growing homeless population. The park, which stretches over seven blocks, has become a hotspot for drug dealing and usage, as well as a haven for homeless encampments. 

The park’s troubled history is compounded by the closure of a building that once served as a community center. This center, when operational, provided activities and programming for local children and families. However, in the 1970s, the New York City Parks Department converted the building to a storage facility, significantly reducing the park’s community engagement and safety. Advocates have been calling for the reopening of this facility to help revitalize the area and curb the escalating problems.