Police say the suspect, came to the museum around 4:15 p.m. and stabbed two employees. They say the suspect was a member of the museum and had just received a letter revoking his membership a day prior. The man wanted to see a film and jumped the reception desk and proceeded to attack and stab the employees in the back, collar bone, and neck.
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Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where they are in stable condition and expected to be okay.
Police say they know who the suspect is because they are looking for him in connection with two prior incidents in Midtown. Employees of the museum also know the suspect, because he is a museum regular. He was seen on surveillance video fleeing the museum after the attack.
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He is described as a 60-year-old white man with a black jacket and a blue surgical mask. Under his jacket, he has a colorful patterned shirt and a hood.
Museumgoers inside said the scene inside was chaos during the incident.
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"i was watching Picasso and Cezanne, you know, just enjoying the museum and suddenly they said, 'museum is closed' and people started running," said David Durejko.
Durejko said there was panic on the escalators.
"Then they started shouting 'get out, get out for your own safety,'" he added.
Dee Daily was in the gift shop with his daughter, when employees rushed them to a safe room in the basement.
"It was nerve racking. I was trying to keep myself calm for my daughter," he said.
A tourist named Missy says she saw the horror unfold as everyone raced out.
"I saw like the ribbon there with 'police' written on it. Then a woman lying like sitting on the floor alive, but then I think I saw a patch of blood on the wall,: she said.
Some people, like Evelyn from Vienna, who had a ticket for Saturday, are counting their blessings they were not inside.
"I'm shocked, it's terrible," she said, "I came her by taxi hoping to see the exhibit, but..."
MoMA announced they will be closed Sunday as police investigate and continue to search for the suspect.
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