Suspects in separate attacks on 2 Pinoys in New York arrested

NEW YORK - Authorities have arrested the suspect in last Monday's attack on a 53-year-old Filipino in Midtown Manhattan.

The suspect was identified as Rasheed Osundairo, a 30-year-old homeless man. He was arrested after he was spotted in the subway by an off-duty police officer.

The Filipino victim, meanwhile, remained in critical condition due to injuries.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York, meanwhile, lauded the arrest of the suspect.

"The Philippine Consulate General in New York Welcomes the apprehension of the suspect behind Monday’s brutal assault of a 53-year-old member of the Filipino community in Manhattan," said Consul General Elmer Cato in a text message to GMA News.

"We would like to express our appreciation to the officer of the New York Police Department who arrested the suspect, Rasheed Osundairo."  

Recovered from Osundairo were some of the items belonging to his victims.

According to the New York Police Department's profile on the suspect, Osundairo was also arrested on March 23 after attacking a person on the subway.

Osundairo's arrest came after the apprehension of Dominick Staton, a suspect in the March 27 attack on a 73-year-old Filipino at the corner of 8th Avenue and 40th Street.

Staton, 44, a homeless man, has been arrested 10 times already over various offenses including arson and robbery, according to his case profile.

Police pointed to robbery as motive behind the attack on the two Filipinos.  —Dave Llavanes Jr/KBK, GMA News