Video shows suspect who attacked, stabbed 2 employees at Museum of Modern Art

ByChantee Lans WABC logo

Monday, March 14, 2022

MoMA stabbing suspect caught on video during horrifying attack

Sonia Rincon has the latest on the search for Gary Cabana, 60, wanted for stabbing two MoMA employees on Saturday.

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Police have released shocking surveillance video of the man wanted for stabbing two employees at the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday.

The newly released footage shows the suspect, identified as 60-year-old Gary Cabana, leap over a front desk before stabbing two female employees around 4:15 p.m.

Police 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.

Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where they are in stable condition and expected to be okay.

Police say they knew who the suspect was because they are looking for him in connection with two prior incidents in Midtown. Employees of the museum also knew Cabana, because he was a museum regular.

He was seen on surveillance video fleeing the museum after the attack.

WATCH: Police hold update on stabbing at MoMA

Police say a man stabbed two Museum of Modern Art employees after jumping the turnstiles and reception desk inside the museum.

Police say Cabana was wearing a black jacket and a blue surgical mask at the time of the attack. Under his jacket, he had a colorful patterned shirt and a hood.

Museumgoers inside said the scene was chaos during the incident.

"I was watching Picasso and Cezanne, you know, just enjoying the museum and suddenly they said, 'museum is closed' and people started running," David Durejko said.

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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