John Lohr : Husband of Times Square stabbing victim speaks out: NYC safety concerns

The family of a 36-year-old mother who was stabbed in broad daylight near Times Square is speaking out about the unprovoked attack.

John Lohr, whose wife Amber was attacked by a man while she was chaperoning a group of students on a class trip, says the family has no plans to return to New York.

“We don’t feel safe there,” Lohr told the New York Post.

The incident took place on a Saturday evening near the Port Gourmet Deli at West 43rd and Eighth Avenue.

Shocking CCTV Footage of Random Stabbing in NYC

Amber Lohr was chaperoning students to the Port Gourmet Deli near Times Square when the man, identified as 61-year-old Cyril Destin, allegedly attacked her with a kitchen knife.

The attack was captured on video obtained by the New York Post. The surveillance footage shows a man leaving the deli, then bringing the walker to the building and sitting down.

A man wearing grey trousers, a bright green shirt, a black jacket, and an orange hat lit a cigarette, crossed his arms, and reached inside the jacket.

He then appeared to pull a large kitchen knife from his jacket, lunged at the two women and slashed one of them, Lohr, before returning to his seat and lighting a cigarette.

NYC Man Arrested for Random Stabbing near Times Square

The suspected attacker, Destin, has been arrested 24 times over the past 20 years for crimes including felonies and trespassing, according to NYPD sources cited by The Post.

“A man with a very long history came out of nowhere and attacked my wife, stabbing her in the chest and putting her life in danger,” Lohr’s husband said.

John Lohr hailed his wife as a “heroine” who shielded their children even as blood from a stab wound soaked her clothes.

“Not only did my wife endure the attack, but she should also be commended for protecting the children and instructing them to move away without looking back,” John told The Post.

Multiple Injuries in Stabbing Incident near New York Pier

After ensuring the safety of the students, Amber informed a passerby that she had been stabbed, prompting him to seek help.

“Whoever she was, thank you,” John expressed his gratitude. He also praised the “brave and fearless” girls on the trip for maintaining composure and assisting his wife despite feeling “terrified.”

Amber Lohr received treatment for her injuries on the sidewalk before being transported to Bellevue Hospital. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect still holding the knife when police officers arrived on the scene.

“This man could have taken my wife’s life or, even worse, harmed one of the children she was looking after,” John Lohr lamented. “The idea that I could have been planning a funeral instead of celebrating Mother’s Day with my wife is revolting.”

Destin, who is said to be residing in a shelter across the street from the crime scene, has been charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as per the New York Police Department.

As of now, he has not been formally charged by District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

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Police sources disclosed to The Post that the suspect has a history of “unpredictable and destructive behaviour.”

The Lohrs are of the opinion that Destin poses a threat to New York and should be incarcerated in a place where he cannot cause further harm.

“This man will strike again, and the next victim may not be as fortunate,” John told The Post. “I will settle for nothing less than the maximum punishment for him. He should not only be imprisoned but, after serving a lengthy and warranted sentence, be permanently placed in a secure facility.”

Greg Wehner from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.