Vincent Pinkney charged with murder in fatal stabbing of Columbia student Davide Giri

An ex-con was charged late Friday for an alleged stabbing rampage that left a Columbia University student dead, an Italian tourist wounded and a lawyer reeling from what he described to The Post as a terrifying, silent attack in Central Park.

Vincent Pinkney, 25, was awaiting arraignment on a slew of charges, including murder and attempted murder, for Thursday night’s bloodshed.

The 5-foot-5, 140-pound Manhattan man — a reputed gang member, according to law-enforcement sources — stayed mum as he was walked out of the NYPD’s 26th precinct in upper Manhattan Friday night and escorted to a waiting car by detectives.

At the vehicle’s open door, Pinkney, who wore a white Tyvek suit and mask, was asked by reporters if he had anything to say — and replied “yes” before standing silently.

He then continued to stand there for at least 30 seconds, staring down reporters and then shaking his head, until cops ushered him into the back of the car.

Vincent Pinkney is transported by police from the NYPD 26th precinct station in New York, NY on Dec. 3, 2021.
Christopher Sadowski

Pinkney is facing charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly stabbing graduate student Davide Giri, 30, in the stomach inside Morningside Park.

The Italian native, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science, staggered out of the park and along West 123rd Street before collapsing near Amsterdam Avenue at around 10:50 p.m. Thursday. He was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital.

Pinkney is charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly attacking Italian tourist Roberto Malaspina about 20 minutes later.

Davide Giri, a student at Columbia University, was fatally stabbed in Pinkney's attack.
Davide Giri, a student at Columbia University, was fatally stabbed in Pinkney’s attack.
Twitter / Davide Giri

Malaspina, 27, was stabbed in the back and the abdomen on West 110th near Columbus Avenue. He was recovering at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital.

Gregory Johnson witnessed the attack and alerted NYPD officers.
Gregory Johnson witnessed the attack and alerted NYPD officers.
Greg Johnson

A police official said that a witness described the accused stabber as “jumping around — happy” after the attack.

“He told detectives he’d spent his time before the stabbings smoking weed,” the source told The Post.

Witnesses told cops that Malaspina’s assailant ran into Central Park, where lawyer Gregory Johnson, 30, said that a man came up behind him and his girlfriend as they were walking his dog, Peanut — and swung a kitchen knife at him without saying a word.

Stunned, Johnson yelled “f–k you” and the suspect yelled back “oh, f–k me?”

Johnson said he and his girlfriend flagged down cops outside the park and helped track down Pinkney, who sources said was caught with a white-handled boning knife with a 6-inch blade.

Pinkney was charged with attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the attack on Johnson.

Detectives have obtained video footage of Giri’s murder, in addition to the witness statements, according to sources.

The NYPD charged Pinkney with murder and attempted murder.
The NYPD charged Pinkney with murder and attempted murder.
Steven Hirsch

Officers collected DNA from under Pinkney’s fingernails, his clothing and the blade cops recovered when he was arrested.

Pinkney has been busted 11 times since 2012 on charges including robbery and assault, and was on supervised release from prison for beating a man and slashing his face in 2013.

The 25-year-old has reportedly been arrested 11 times since 2012 on charges including robbery and assault.
The 25-year-old has reportedly been arrested 11 times since 2012 on charges including robbery and assault.
Christopher Sadowski

He is also being investigated for the stabbing of another tourist — this one from Germany — fewer than 24 hours before Thursday night’s bloodshed, sources said.

Pinkney did not confess, and no possible motive for his alleged rampage has yet been provided.

“It’s entirely random and unprovoked,” a police source said. “There’s no conversation, there’s no anything. It’s the scariest type of crime because it could be anybody.”

Read original article here

Leave a Comment