In a harrowing incident on Christmas morning at Grand Central Terminal’s Tartinery restaurant, a homeless man with a history of mental illness and multiple arrests brutally attacked two teenage girls.

Steven Hutcherson, 36, reportedly yelled “I want all the white people dead,” right before he stabbed the young visitors from South America, ages 14 and 16. The older girl sustained serious injuries with a knife wound to her back, affecting her lungs, while the younger was stabbed in the thigh reported the New York Post.

The attacker, Hutcherson, is no stranger to the law, with 17 prior arrests and a notorious reputation for disturbing public order and violent threats. His criminal history includes menacing behavior and possession of deadly weapons.

In a recent incident prior to this attack, he threatened to shoot a stranger in the Bronx, exhibiting increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior.

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The response to the stabbings was swift, with transit police officers apprehending Hutcherson in under a minute as he relinquished his weapon upon their arrival. The victims were promptly treated at Bellevue Hospital and released the same day, bearing physical and undoubtedly psychological scars from the ordeal.

Charged with attempted murder, assault, and weapon possession, among other counts, Hutcherson’s case is a stark example of a disturbing pattern of leniency and insufficient repercussions for repeat offenders.

Despite his lengthy criminal record and clear indicators of being a threat, Hutcherson was repeatedly released back into the community. His most recent arrest in November for threatening violence resulted in a mere misdemeanor charge and a conditional discharge.

This systemic failure raises grave concerns about the safety of the public and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in detaining individuals who repeatedly demonstrate violent tendencies.

The incident has sparked outrage and concern among law enforcement and the public alike, questioning the efficacy of the legal system in preventing such unprovoked attacks. Critics argue that the tendency of district attorneys to reduce charges and the courts to release dangerous individuals back into society contributes to a cycle of violence, endangering innocent lives.

“DAs are chopping all the charges down. Judges are letting him go. Now we’ve got two teenagers who were stabbed,” a law enforcement source said.

The attack not only leaves physical wounds but also a deep-seated fear and a desperate call for a more robust and effective approach to handling individuals with a history of violent behavior and mental instability.

The urgent need for a reassessment of the justice system’s handling of repeat offenders is clear, with a focus on ensuring the safety and security of the public.

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