Sandy MaloneNew York, NY – The suspect wanted in the brutal stabbing of two people at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) on Saturday was arrested in Philadelphia after he set fire to his hotel room (video below).
The incident occurred at about 4:15 p.m. on March 12 when 60-year-old Gary Cabana tried to visit MoMA to see a film, WCAU reported.
New York Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said Cabana was denied access to the museum because his membership had been revoked the day before after he cause multiple disturbances.
Cabana had been sent a letter from the museum informing him that he was no longer permitted to enter the museum.
But when he returned and wasn’t allowed through the museum’s entrance, surveillance video from the lobby showed Cabana jumped over the top of the reception desk with a knife in his hand and went after employees.
Deputy Commissioner Miller said Cabana stabbed a 24-year-old woman and 24-year-old man multiple times each, WCAU reported.
He said the victims were stabbed in the back, collarbone, and neck, and both were expected to survive.
In the video, a man in a suit holding a radio tried to stop Cabana from across the counter by throwing numerous items at him, WCAU reported.
Both victims were eventually able to escape and run past Cabana in the chaos that ensued.
Cabana fled the museum after the attack in a blue jacket and blue face mask, WCAU reported.
Police arrested him at about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday inside the Greyhound bus terminal in Philadelphia.
“Detectives found the 60-year-old suspect — fitting the description — he was actually asleep on a bench inside the Greyhound terminal,” Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. “Police took him into custody, woke him up. The individual did not resist, did not fight.”
It turned out that Cabana was also wanted for setting fire to his room at the Best Western Plus on Vine Street hours earlier, WCAU reported.
Police said no one was hurt in what the fire department has declared an arson at the hotel.
Police say the MoMA stabbing suspect set a fire in a Philly Best Western room yesterday. He was arrested overnight.
Cleaning crews working on the room told me there was fire damage to the curtains and something charred in a trash bin in the room. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/GvKzYewiF4
— Miguel Martinez-Valle (@MiguelMValle) March 15, 2022
Cabana was arrested on arson charges and has been ordered held without bail, the New York Post reported.
NYPD is working with Philadelphia police to make sure he faces charges in both jurisdictions.
Before he was arrested, Cabana made some bizarre posts to social media in which he claimed the accusations against him were a “total frame job” by museum officials who had banned him, the New York Post reported.
“Bipolar is a tough road to hoe,” he posted to Facebook. “Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde on the 2 ‘supposed’ days I ‘acted up: 2/24 +. 3/9. Total blind side when I got ‘the letter’ from Daniel P.”
“NOTE to catty beeyotches of the world, words are sharper than knives,” the rant continued. “THEN U get framed [and] evicted from MoMA (not just the movies, ALL THE ART too by a bitter old woman who shushes U when U LAUGH during a comedy. She’s the menace, NOT ME.”
“What is worse? Hackers or Journos,” Cabana wrote. “Right now, I LOVE MY HACKERS for taking my mind off this frame job by MoMA. THERE WERE NO DISRUPTIONS.”
And he defended his actions at the museum, the New York Post reported.
“It wasn’t SCREAM 6 at MoMA it was poke poke poke wake-up call. y [sic] the frame job MoMA, get yer facts straight,” Cabana posted.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content:
MOMA ATTACK: Police say they're looking for 60-year-old Gary Cabana for yesterday's brutal attack inside the Museum of Modern Art. They say both 24-year-old victims, a woman and a man, are now in stable condition. But this is new video they released of the stabbing. pic.twitter.com/bS5eHo54LO
— Hannah Kliger (@HannahKliger) March 13, 2022
Holly Matkin
