The “very loving’’ Brooklyn hospital greeter who allegedly snapped and stabbed a string of strangers was held without bail Friday and ordered to undergo a psych exam.
Jermain Rigueur, 27, displayed a blank stare as he was arraigned in Queens criminal court on 19 criminal charges including attempted murder, assault and related crimes — after cops recovered a “6-inch fixed-blade bowie knife” and a bloodied hoodie in his backpack, according to the criminal complaint.
Rigueur faces a potential 90 years behind bars for launching violent attacks on four people in the Queens’ neighborhoods of Springfield Gardens and Jamaica on Jan. 16 and 17, authorities said.
The suspect — a greeter at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn who was described by a neighbor as a “very loving young man” — also allegedly stabbed a 61-year-grandfather in the back Jan. 8, flashing a grin at his victim before fleeing.
“We don’t know the motive, but at this rate right now what New Yorkers really need to know is that safety is paramount in this city,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said of Rigueur’s alleged crimes after his arraignment. “And we need to make sure that when that safety is violated, the defendants will be held accountable.”
Rigueur pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail by Queens Judge Marty Lentz, who also mandated that he receive a psychological examination. The suspect was placed on suicide watch at the request of his lawyer.
Rigueur appeared in court in handcuffs and wearing a white hazmat suit.
Queens Assistant District Attorney Brendan Quinones requested that Rigueur be held without bail because he is a flight risk because of the potentially severe prison sentence he faces and the fact that he doesn’t have strong community ties.
“We have a very strong case,” Quinones told the judge. “We believe that no amount of cash bail will successfully ensure his return to court.”
Rigueur’s lawyer, Arthur Edwards, did not oppose remand but said he would reserve the right to raise the issue of bail at a later date.
“We intend to zealously and vigorously defend Jermain against these baseless charges,” Edwards told reporters after the hearing. “Based on our preliminary investigation, we believe that the people will be unable to sustain these charges a trial.”
Edwards said his client comes from a “strong, immigrant family” and that his parents are both medical professionals who have worked in New York for more than 50 years.
Edwards admitted the charges against Rigueur “are pretty sensational” but insisted he wouldn’t try the case in the media.
The random attacks started Jan. 8 when Rigueur allegedly knifed the 61-year-old man in the back as he was walking to the laundromat that night, then grinned afterward.
Then Tuesday, Rigueur allegedly attacked Shaneka Anderson, 34, as she was walking home from her job with the TSA at LaGuardia Airport.
Anderson noticed that a man in a dark hoodie was following her before “she felt a sharp pain to the lower right side of her torso and immediately fell to the ground,” according to a criminal complaint.
Rigueur “fell to the ground with her” before getting up and running off, the court documents allege.
Anderson had to undergo surgery and stitches to treat her internal bleeding from the deep laceration she suffered, the complaint says.
Three more victims were then allegedly stabbed Wednesday morning by Rigueur.
Patrick Benjamin, 74, was walking with his wife when the knifeman “reached around” and sliced him in the stomach, the complaint alleges.
Benjamin needed surgery and stitches to treat the wound, the filing claims.
Four minutes after the attack on Benjamin, at 7:21 a.m., Amara Kourouma was knifed in the back by Rigueur and also needed stitches, the complaint says.
And 35 minutes later, Ryan Moore was stabbed by Rigueur. The pair had gotten into a verbal fight over a seat on the Q111 bus beforehand, the complaint says.
Rigueur allegedly followed Moore off the bus and “repeatedly” tried to stab him. Rigueur only managed to land one blow that caused a “small puncture” to Moore’s back, the complaint alleges.
When Rigueur was arrested later Wednesday, cops found the knife and bloodied hoodie in his backpack, according to the complaint.
Rigueur is due back in court Jan. 31.
