Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday ordered a review into New York City public schools' hiring of Sayed Mohassib. The 27-year-old school aide was fired Monday after being charged with the murder of jogger Katie Suarez. "Nothing is more paramount than the safety of our students," said Mr. Mamdani on Monday.
Families were shaken at the school where Sayed Mohassib worked as an aide. He was fired on Monday, days after he was charged in the death of the jogger, Katie Suarez.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday ordered a review into New York City public schools' hiring of a man who had a history of mental health issues and was charged over the weekend with killing a Brooklyn jogger.
The man, Sayed Mohassib, 27, was fired from his job as a school aide by the city's Department of Education on Monday. His firing came two days after he was charged with murder in the death of Katie Suarez, 28, who was stabbed in the neck on Oct. 30 while running along the Brooklyn waterfront.
"I have directed my team to conduct a full review into this matter," Mr. Mamdani said during a news conference on Monday. "Nothing is more paramount than the safety of our students."
In the days since his arrest, questions have been raised about what city officials knew about Mr. Mohassib when they hired him, including an abrupt dismissal from the Marine Corps and at least two mental health episodes.
Parents were shocked on Monday at P.S. 200 The Benson School in Brooklyn, where Mr. Mohassib worked as a paraprofessional. The elementary school is about four blocks from where he lives and a mile from where Ms. Suarez was stabbed.
Paraprofessionals often work one-on-one with children with disabilities. The position, which is among the lowest-paid roles in the city's schools, is also one of the most difficult to fill.
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