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MoMA Madness: ​New York's Museum of Modern Art evacuated after employees were stabbed
Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images

MoMA Madness: ​New York's Museum of Modern Art evacuated after employees were stabbed

Violent crime continues to affect the daily lives of New York residents.

Saturday afternoon, people visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City were evacuated from the museum after two employees were stabbed inside the museum, CNN reported.

Having been stabbed in the back, the collar bone, and the neck, both employees received serious wounds in the attacks and were rushed to Bellevue Hospital.

Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller said that both of the attack victims are expected to survive.

He said, “At approximately 4:15 this afternoon, an individual entered the museum, attempted to gain entrance presenting his membership card and was denied entrance because his membership had expired. His membership had expired as a result of two incidents involving disorderly conduct here at the museum on two separate dates in recent days.”

The attacker — who has been identified as 60-year-old Gary Cabana — became angry after he was denied entrance to the museum and subsequently jumped over the reception desk and attack the two museum employees.

The NYPD is still searching for Cabana.

Reportedly, Cabana is a regular at MoMA and entered the facility on Saturday with the intention of attending a film viewing.

He is known to NYPD and is wanted by the department in connection with two incidents that occurred in Midtown Manhattan prior to the stabbing. The police say they have a “direction of his flight.”

Miller said, “The individual involved in this incident is known to us and we are endeavoring to locate this person right now.”

He added that the incident is “still unfolding” and the “investigation is in its early stages.”

The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, said that he was briefed on the incident. His press secretary said that it “appears to be an isolated, criminal incident.”

Adams asked for the public’s help in locating Cabana. He said, “Please continue to avoid the area while police continue their investigation and if you have any information, please contact NYPD immediately. Public safety is our top priority.”

One MoMA patron said that when the attack occurred, museum visitors were not told what was happening and were rushed out of the facility.

The patron said, “We weren’t told what was going on, just that they had to close the exhibits immediately. A woman did say it was an emergency.”

In response to the ongoing investigation, MoMA said that its facilities will be closed to the public on Sunday.

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