Recently, a stabbing incident occurred in front of a police precinct near Chinatown, raising concerns about safety in an area typically regarded as secure. The victim, a teenager, was attacked by a stranger wielding a knife, and the police announced on the 17th that they had arrested a suspect with a lengthy criminal record of 15 prior offenses.

According to the NYPD, the incident took place at approximately 11:35 AM on October 16th, when a 19-year-old man from Brooklyn was assaulted outside the municipal building at 1 Centre St. He suffered a severe stab wound to his neck and back, leaving a significant amount of blood at the scene. He was rushed to the hospital but has since been released after receiving brief medical treatment.

This incident unfolded in an area adjacent to the municipal hall and close to the NYPD headquarters, just two blocks from the bustling Chinatown community. Officers from the 5th precinct responded promptly to the call, and after several hours of investigation, they apprehended 41-year-old Marvin Dupree. He is facing charges of attempted murder and felony assault.

Reports indicate that just before the attack, the victim, identified as Alan Ryvkin, was at the municipal building to address a traffic violation. After conversing with a woman outside the building, Dupree allegedly approached him without warning and stabbed him in the lower neck area. He then fled west on Reade Street. Later that afternoon, police located and arrested him in Harlem, just about 500 feet from the precinct.

Dupree’s criminal history is alarming; his 15 prior arrests include charges of assault, harassment, illegal possession of controlled substances, threats, and resisting arrest. The last time he was detained was in July for threatening others in Harlem, and his previous assault case dates back to June 2012, also in Harlem.

Additionally, Dupree has served more than four years in state prison for illegal possession of controlled substances, receiving parole in November 2019. He also spent about six years in prison for drug trafficking, being released on parole in October 2013. Earlier in his history, he was incarcerated for less than a year for drug possession before receiving parole in July 2006.