A 22-year-old man was found unconscious with stab wounds on the floor of an apartment at 106 West 83rd Street just before 2 a.m. Sunday, and was pronounced dead at the hospital. His 36-year-old roommate was taken into custody.
“It’s a halfway house,” wrote Deputy Inspector Timothy Malin in an email to West Side Rag. “They were roommates that had a dispute.”
Both the 22-year-old and the 36-year-old had stab wounds to their torsos. The 36-year-old was listed in stable condition. Neither man has been identified.
Police headquarters lists the location as a Basics Housing Men’s Homeless Shelter.
Thank God the crime statistics say crime is down or I would start thinking the UWS is turning into a high crime zone.
We’re slipping back to the ‘80s
See my comment from two days ago about the robbery where they took the dog and the Playstation. It was also on this block.
Anyway, I was saying how this block has been increasingly problematic over the past year or so. In case you missed it…
“On another note, that block has been kinda sketchy lately, despite having a school and a post office. Remember they just busted that coke dealer on that block last year. And the guy that attempted to attack that woman (82nd and CPW I think) a few months ago was living on that block in one of those halfway house buildings.”
Totally agree. That block stands out completely from the whole neighborhood. I am Jewish but I think the church was a great addition, and I hoped it would turn the block more, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. And one would also think that having a fire station on the block would help.
One building fairly close to the crime site was converted to high end apartments but I think buyers were wise enough to recognize that if you were going to spend a lot of money, this was not the place to do so.
I am sure many will argue that the block retains the feel of the pre-gentrification UWS, but it really needs to be cleaned up. I have a lot of friends who are PS9 parents and they really are not enthused about this.
This is the main reason why Holy Trinity Church on 83rd St. between Amsterdam and Broadway closed their doors to the public during the week and only open them during mass because of the homeless shelter on W. 83rd St. The homeless would come in during the day and steal from the church, anything. Including the candles that were lit!!!!
Condolences to the deceased. This is horrible.
Is it really a good idea to have a homeless shelter directly across the street from an elementary school (and, to be specific, the pre-k/kindergarten yard for that school)? I know the vast majority of homeless people are normal, harmless people who are just down on their luck, but I still think it is a horrible idea.
That block is such an anomaly compared to the rest of the neighborhood.
Juan, sounds like you are discriminating against those in the shelter.
Where do you think they should go? As far as possible from society?
That’s not a bad start.
But do YOU think that mentally distubed, substance-dependent convicted and paroled criminals should be (ware)housed next to an elementary school?
Westsidegal – I wonder whether you were being sarcastic?
You can have all the sympathy in the world for those dealing with drug addiction or mental illness, and still recognize that they require constraints that others do not. I can testify that a young person in my life who is struggling with drug addiction is both a wonderful person who is trying hard to get back on his feet – and utterly unable to control his impulses. I am paying a lot for his residence in a place where he can’t indulge. I would not want him near a school for any amount of money, for his protection and that of the kids, until he is well past the halfway house stage.
Dealing fairly and decently with people does not mean ignoring their needs, nor the risks that their addiction poses to others.
Well said.
Not immediately across the street from a playground populated by 4 and 5 year olds. If this was even one block further away I would be a lot less concerned.
Ever since that men’s shelter went in a few years ago, this block has been riddled with crime. From packages being stolen to cars broken into to home robberies – one just 4 doors down from the shelter two days ago. The cops are one block over but you never ever see them patrolling the neighborhood on foot. Worst Precinct ever- the only thing the 20th Precint cops are good at is parking in front of fire hydrants.
Exactly. If you ignore all of the crime, particularly the quality of life crime, then guess what? The crime stats are going to look really great and NYPD can pat themselves on the back.
I do appreciate the efforts of the officer who posts here frequently to reach out to the community, but I think as a whole, NYPD has been neutered by its attempts to do a 180 from stop-and-frisk, so they are ignoring a lot of problems.
What’s a homeless shelter on W. 83rd St. at Columbus Avenue doing in front or next to a public school?????
Gee, I have no idea why people are so opposed to homeless shelters operating in their neighborhood.
I am part of a new group of nearly 500 people – mostly UWSers – who’ve come together to say “this is deeply concerning”; to demand our elected officials acknowledge the troubling trends unfolding in our neighborhood & city; and to say “we expect active, creative, effective new steps to combat rising crime and a growing number of mentally ill homeless in our neighborhood.” We are compassionate and thoughtful but reject the narrative that “the city has never been safer!” and the growing sense that “anything goes”, be it a man taking over the median on W 79 and shouting obscenities at passing children; folks defecating on the side of buildings; crimes adjacent to schools (as in this case) or playgrounds (as with the 10/19 shooting on W 64); a surge in threatening panhandlers on the subway; and so on. The trends are scary and if we do not send a concerted message that 1) this is not okay; and 2) we expect/demand better, I don’t see how things can change. What, for example, is Councilmember Helen Rosenthal doing to address increased in crime and the mentally ill in this neighborhood?!
How do we learn more about your group and how to help?
The summer of 2018 a woman was viciously attacked on 84th street and CPW by a resident of the 83rd street halfway house. At the time police said he had a lengthy criminal record with his most recent arrest happening on May of the same year, two months before the horrific attack. The life of this woman was forever changed, starting with the fact that she had to learn how to talk and walk again.
My daughter was walking to school by herself on her first day of school Sept 2018, when two residents from the 83rd street halfway home were standing outside and they asked her to come in with them. They wanted to show her what she could do with “those legs”. That was the last day she ever walked down 83rd street. This is one way for residents in the uws, specially for those who have to walk by 83rd street, to make way for the residents of halfway homes in our community.
I still have to go to the post office and rent a car so I am forced to walk on that block. There are drug dealings going on at all times – with school children playing in the playground across the street, and seeing ( I pray not learning) how is done. Middle schoolers come to buy candy at the corner store located on 83rd st and Columbus, next to this halfway home and they are also exposed to drug selling, money exchanges etc etc. These drug money transactions expand to central park west and into the park. I saw a men from this halfway home selling drugs to teenagers on a stairwell on a brownstone building on 83rd st. I have also seen men from this halfway home steel bikes. They work in groups one coming at a time to take a different part of the bike unit it is all gone.
The distinction between this halfway home and the homeless shelter where I volunteer is that the men that live in this halfway home are recently released criminals that don’t have a family, relatives, friends or a place to return to, whereas the homeless men I work with are men who need a place to live , in order to get a job and while they are getting their lives back on track.
The other difference which is worth noting is that between us and the people who live in this halfway home. We are willing to give them the best chances to succeed at our expense and our safety, while they have no reason to do well by us – as they dont’ see themselves as members of this community. I heard one of them say to another men, who was asking for money back, leave me alone I pay my dues in the bronx I don’t give a F about what happens around here.
My hope is that this halfway home will be moved to a place where this people will have a stronger sense of community and accountability, where perhaps they will have family and friends that could visit and help them along. In the mean time let’s remain aware of the danger that this poorly supervised halfway home represents to us, to our families, and to our community. And let’s hope that the 20th precint and Council member Helen Rosenthal will do something about this big problem and help us stay safe.
Could not have said better myself. Drug deals go down there all the time ( I usually pass by that block around 6-6:30 PM ). I’ve never seen a cop on the block. Both cops and politicians failed at being proactive here. The least they could do at this time is being reactive and understand that this is not an isolated event and has to be addressed immediately.
you want change vote Republican in ’21….the Dem class of ’21 looks just as scary or worse (if thats possible) than the Deblas regime
one can hope people are independently minded enough to separate city officials who are republicans. From the trump admin. There’s just no ignoring that when it comes to crime, mental health and homelessness the republicans simply do more to keep communities safe and let the police do their jobs, not without oversight, but without tying their hands behind their back. we had so few major problems the last few years, I think we forgot how Giuliani and Bloomberg were elected to begin with. You don’t have to be a republican to be for change in this city and neighborhood. Just think about it.
I am sad that this happened. But I have lived on W. 82nd St. for decades. The shelter has always been there. I am often on 83rd, & often encounter residents from the shelter at the deli on Columbus 83rd eg. I am definitely NOT NIMBY about this. After 3 decades, this happens? Once? Calm down and let’s not get our privileged panties in a bunch. 83rd St. remains one of the least uber gentrified blocks in the ‘hood. I love it. Still old school Spanish little bodega, etc. No danger to the kids at the school. This is how they get regular folk out & everything becomes greedy landlords getting rid of generations of families who have lived there. 83rd is actually quite special, shelter included.
Please note that the victim here was a homeless man as well. The two were roommates.
Like the majority of homicides in the US, the murderer and the victim knew each other.
Homeless are more frequently the victims of crimes than the perpetrators. Do they deserve safety? I hope people don’t fall into the trap of stereotyping the homeless.
I’m sure the victim who got beaten and almost raped last year would disagree with your assessment. The perpetrator who attacked her lived in the shelter on West 83rd.
https://www.westsiderag.com/2018/07/05/woman-beaten-and-bitten-in-attempted-rape-on-central-park-west-police-say
UpperWestSider, can you please state what in “my assessment” (what i wrote) you are disagreeing with? Is it your “assessment” that the homeless SHOULD BE stereotyped, or that they AREN’T more often victims than criminals? Or that they DON’T deserve safety?
I used to live on 82nd St. You’d have to remain alert and walk on the school side of the sidewalk to go to the post office which is just up the block. Super sketchy even in broad daylight.
All happening a block away from 20th precinct?
I find it unbelievable that this goes on right around the corner from a police precinct. Where are the cops? They should be patroling this block frequently. Frightening.
They’re too busy out having press conferences announcing that crime is down.
Juan, that’s a cheap shot against the head of a precinct, DI Malin, who has done an amazing job communicating with and getting feedback from the community. Which is a big part of his job.
I guess you would prefer someone who didn’t care about community input and communications.
I am almost afraid to comment as the last time I did on an article about crime, I was accused by someone of being a russian troll/bot, but I feel compelled to state that crime statistics are based on the number of REPORTED CRIMES and the number of ARRESTS plus other factors so quite frankly when people keep preaching about “crime rates are down” I have to roll my eyes and laugh. I won’t even delve into the NIMBY issue here, but I must say that every person deserves a right to not be KILLED, at any time, let alone in their own residence. Crime is UP! Wake up people! DeBlasio has trashed this city. I know there are a number of folks on here who actually recognize and see that things have gotten worse and more dangerous, but we are up against radicals (on the right and left side) who will continue to create dangerous situations for the average joe. There seem to be no moderates around anymore. What ever happened to ensuring general safety while maintaining global human decency? Why do we hold more compassion for criminals (bribing them to show up for court dates with Mets tickets and Dunkin Donuts gift cards — are you kidding me?!), while innocent people are being robbed, shot at, killed in their own homes? I don’t care that this 22 year old was a resident in a halfway house/homeless shelter or that he had a “dispute” that led to this — I care that he was murdered in our neighborhood! And down the block from this, we had a young couple terrorized with a breaking & entry robbery. The list of frightening crimes, goes on and on and gets longer every week.
I am truly always surprised by those who say they feel safe in this neighborhood. Either they are very naive or must have some alternate means of protecting themselves.
I am at a loss as to what steps we as a community should take. Drug use is happening openly… I saw two young women holding a baby buying drugs one evening (not that these facts should matter but I know if you don’t include them someone will say it was location/time of day/etc as a means to minimize and rationalize these incidents…it was around 8pm and on Broadway in front of a starbucks!).
I hope we all attempted to use our voting power last Tuesday…yet…we still find ourselves here…more crime, more trauma. What people are also really neglecting in all of this is the TRAUMA — of experiencing these crimes, witnessing these crimes (like those poor children on the playground watching someone discharge a firearm), hearing & reading about these stories…trauma builds and does not desensitize you but rather sensitizes you to trauma.
I don’t have any good answers but I hope for everyone’s sake, things change, otherwise we are heading into New Jack City territory.
What radicals on the
right?
You must be a new around here if you are so alarmed by these few incidents.
Honestly, this is nothing to be concerned about. It’s just that now, with the internet, social media, and the regular media sensationalizing everything it just seems that way.
City life might not be for you if you are that scared to simply exist in this neighborhood in the safest big city in the country. Everyone needs to just stop crying wolf already.
Everything is fine. Try to relax.