NYPD: man suspected of randomly slashing woman in the neck in SoHo

A homeless man with a lengthy criminal history is accused of a violent attack in broad daylight in SoHo on Monday. Muslim Brunson, 46, is now in custody, facing charges of attempted murder, assault, and weapons possession, ABC News 7 informs.

The incident occurred around 3 PM near Wooster and Broome Streets in SoHo, Manhattan, where Brunson allegedly struck a 29-year-old woman with a bottle before using a shard of the broken glass to slash a 25-year-old woman in the neck. The younger woman is currently in critical condition.

Bystanders intervened to assist the injured woman, and police apprehended Brunson a few blocks from the scene. He reportedly provided a false name to officers and is believed to be suffering from mental illness.

Authorities have revealed that Brunson has a significant record of prior arrests. In 2022, he was arrested for assaulting an off-duty NYPD employee in a subway station, causing a fractured orbital bone. He also has a 2019 arrest for robbing and assaulting a 13-year-old boy on a Brooklyn subway, stealing his phone and pushing him off the train. He was released on bail and his own recognizance in that case.

After the 2022 arrest, Brunson served a year in prison, being released in August 2023 and completing his parole in February 2024. He was also arrested for public lewdness in January 2024, though that record is sealed. Since 2019, Brunson has had numerous interactions with mental health professionals within the court system.


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