A New York City mother says she is suffering “deep pain” after her son was arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a female jogger.
Fatma Mohassib said she was stunned by the allegations against her 27-year-old son, Sayed Mohassib, who is accused of repeatedly stabbing 28-year-old Katie Suarez in the neck.
Police said Suarez was training for the New York City Marathon on October 30 when she was attacked near Shore Parkway in Bath Beach.
The bank teller was taken to NYU Langone Hospital in critical condition and was later declared brain dead.
Sayed, a former NYPD officer who was discharged from the Marines after being deemed psychologically unfit, was arrested Saturday at his family’s home in Bensonhurst.
After learning of her son’s alleged actions, Fatma told WABC: “I’m in deep pain, I’m in deep trouble. I hope everything will go OK.”
Speaking off camera, the suspect’s mother explained why she believes her son is an “excellent boy.”
“He’s a black belt, he goes to Boy Scouts all his life, goes to the mosque all his life, he goes to Brooklyn College, the team basketball, excellent boy,” she said.
Katie Suarez, 28, died after being stabbed repeatedly in the neck while jogging near Shore Parkway in Bath Beach on October 30
Sayed Mohassib, 27, has been identified as the alleged killer. His mother, Fatma Mohassib, says she is in “deep pain” following his Saturday arrest
Authorities said surveillance video showed Sayed near the site of the fatal assault both before and after Suarez was attacked.
According to court documents reviewed by the outlet, Sayed told detectives he went to the park because he believed “people were going to come and kill his family.”
Near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, he allegedly told police, he “sat down on a bench” and “became covered in blood,” court records state.
Sayed also reportedly told investigators that after returning home, he disposed of “the bloody clothing” and “the knife.” He allegedly acknowledged attempting to clean blood from inside the apartment.
The suspect said he dropped the items down a garbage chute across from the family’s apartment, WABC reported. In 2024, his mother and sister reportedly called from the same location after he allegedly threatened to “chop them up.”
Fatma has rejected that claim.
“He never attacked me, never attacked his sister, never attacked anyone in the neighborhood,” she said.
Suarez was declared brain dead after the attack and kept on life support while doctors recovered her organs. Her pancreas, liver, kidneys and heart were donated, saving five lives this week
An NYPD officer marks evidence at the scene where Suarez was attacked. Her father had gone searching for her when he found her critically wounded and bleeding in a nearby grassy area
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She did acknowledge that her son has struggled with his mental health. Fatma said he had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals several times, including one stay that lasted two months.
Fatma also expressed sympathy for Suarez’s relatives and loved ones.
“My heart goes deep to the mother and the father. Just, we both lost, you lost your daughter, I lost my son,” she said.
Suarez remained on life support after being declared brain dead, allowing doctors to recover her organs, the New York Post previously reported.
Her pancreas, liver, kidneys and heart were donated and saved five lives this week.
Investigators initially examined whether Sayed and Suarez were connected because both attended Brooklyn College. However, the NYPD told Our News Outlet that there appeared to be no relationship between them and that they did not seem to know each other.
Sayed briefly worked for the NYPD after leaving the Marines, according to the outlet.
He later sought to return to the police department but was rejected. He then became a teacher’s aide at PS 200 in Bensonhurst.
NYPD detectives investigate the scene where Suarez was fatally stabbed multiple times in the neck
The New York City Department of Education confirmed that Sayed has been suspended and said it will seek to terminate his employment pending the outcome of the case.
Following his arrest, Sayed was led from the Bensonhurst police station in handcuffs. He showed little emotion as officers escorted him away.
He faces charges of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon.
A judge ordered him held in custody. He is scheduled to return to court on November 10.
Suarez’s family, friends and neighbors continue to mourn her death.
Her mother, Yasira Suarez, confirmed that her daughter died several days after the attack.
“Destroyed. We’re all destroyed,” she said. “You took an angel.”
Suarez’s father had gone out to look for her when he found his daughter critically injured and bleeding in a nearby grassy area.
The investigation remains ongoing.
