Horrifying moment deranged man, 60, leapt over New York's MoMa counter and stabbed two 24-year-old employees after having his $65 museum membership revoked for disorderly conduct

 A 60-year-old art lover who had his membership to New York City's upscale MoMa on Friday returned to museum on Saturday and stabbed two desk attendants before fleeing the scene. 

Gary Cabana jumped on the desk with a knife, rammed it into the victims' backs and collar bones and then ran away. 

The two employees - one male, one female - survived and were taken to the hospital. Cabana, who has grey hair and wears thick-rimmed reading glasses, is now at large. 

Cabana's address is listed as The Times Square, a charity-run building at 255 West 43rd Street for formerly homeless people or people who are mentally ill. 

It is unclear what type of MoMa membership he had. The cheapest is a $65-a-year pass for unlimited access to exhibits. 

According to police, his membership to the museum was revoked on Friday for two unspecified incidents involving disorderly conduct. He is thought to have returned to the scene on Saturday to exact revenge. Horrifying video footage from inside the museum shows him jumping on top of the reception desk, pulling out a knife, and stabbing the two employees before fleeing. 

Police said one the employees was a 24-year-old woman being treated for stabs to the lower back and one stab to the back of her neck.  The other was stabbed in the collar bone. Cabana is shown climbing onto the desk with a knife in his hand and approaching the two workers yesterday at 4pmCabana is shown climbing onto the desk with a knife in his hand and approaching the two workers yesterday at 4pm

This is the horrifying moment Gary Cabana, 60, stabs two female MoMa employees after climbing over the front desk of the museum to attack them

This is the horrifying moment Gary Cabana, 60, stabs two female MoMa employees after climbing over the front desk of the museum to attack them 

Cabana, 60, is shown brutally attacking the two women in the museum yesterday before going on the run

Cabana, 60, is shown brutally attacking the two women in the museum yesterday before going on the run 

Police are on the hunt for the 60-year-old man who attacked the employees after his membership was suspended

Police are on the hunt for the 60-year-old man who attacked the employees after his membership was suspended

One of the stabbing victims was a 24-year-old woman working behind the reception desk

One of the stabbing victims was a 24-year-old woman working behind the reception desk

Despite her injuries, the woman was heard joking about receiving hazard pay after suffering stabs to her back and neck

Despite her injuries, the woman was heard joking about receiving hazard pay after suffering stabs to her back and neck

The suspect, who jumped the museum turnstile and fled the scene after the attack, is wearing a dark jacket, blue facemask and sunglasses, sources told DailyMail.com.  

One of the victims had said, 'I'm going to get hazard pay,' as she was taken into an ambulance, the New York Post reported. Police have yet to name the victims.

Cops lined up and down 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan after they responded to reports of the stabbings, and people were advised to avoid the area, which is under investigation. 

Police request anyone with information on the wanted suspect to contact investigators. 

The MoMA and its stores will be closed to the public on Sunday.  

Police are stationed at the entrance of the art gallery in Manhattan as the report two victims were attacked at around 4 p.m.

Police are stationed at the entrance of the art gallery in Manhattan as the report two victims were attacked at around 4 p.m.

Museum visitors were instructed to quickly evacuate the scene
One group was stuck in the basement before being called out by police

Museum visitors were instructed to quickly evacuate the scene. One group was stuck in the basement, with some people screaming and crying, before being called out by police to run out of the building (right)

Witnesses at the scene report that two women were being carried out on stretchers and taken to a nearby hospital

Witnesses at the scene report that two women were being carried out on stretchers and taken to a nearby hospital

A FDNY ambulance was seen outside Moma as police said the victims' injuries were non-life threatening

A FDNY ambulance was seen outside Moma as police said the victims' injuries were non-life threatening

One museum goer said the Moma was packed with visitors taking shelter from the snowstorm outside

One museum goer said the Moma was packed with visitors taking shelter from the snowstorm outside

John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, said the suspect, who is on the run, was a member of the museum who had his membership revoked on Friday and attacked workers when they denied him entrance

John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism, said the suspect, who is on the run, was a member of the museum who had his membership revoked on Friday and attacked workers when they denied him entranceSeveral people who were in the MoMA at the time of the stabbing filmed the hectic evacuation as they were ushered by museum security to quickly exit the building. 

One Twitter user with the handle Cheerleader52 said her group was locked in the basement without being told what was going on when the stabbing occurred. 

'People were screaming and crying. Police told us to RUN,' the user wrote as they filmed the escape out of the museum. 

Museum-goer David Durjerko, of Chicago, told NBC New York that the museum was full of visitors taking shelter from the snowstorm when the attack happened. 

'Suddenly they said ''the museum's closed'' and people started running,' Durjerko said. 'Little panic on the escalators, and then they started shouting, ''Get out, get out for your own safety.'''  

MoMA officials could not be immediately reached for comment. 

Police have yet to report any arrest or charges filed in the stabbing.  

Police are asking anyone with information about the stabber to contact officials

Police are asking anyone with information about the stabber to contact officials

Police instructed people inside the museum to evacuate quickly as they secured the premises

Police instructed people inside the museum to evacuate quickly as they secured the premises

Police officials secured the museum quickly. The investigation is still on going

Police officials secured the museum quickly. The investigation is still on going

Police have yet to report any arrest or charges filed in connection to the stabbing  on Saturday.

Police have yet to report any arrest or charges filed in connection to the stabbing  on Saturday.

No comments:

Powered by Blogger.