NYPD arrests suspect in shelter homicide, livery driver slashing

Police have arrested a suspect that allegedly killed a homeless shelter resident on Friday before slashing a livery driver in a botched robbery on Saturday.

Authorities arrested William Smith, 53, in Astoria on Monday around 11 a.m., the New York Daily News reported, adding that he has yet to be formally charged.

Smith was first wanted for questioning in connection to a Friday morning homicide at 400 E. 30th St, the site of a homeless shelter where a man was found dead with a laceration to his neck, police reported.

On Saturday, Smith allegedly slashed a Queens livery cab driver shortly after midnight, police stated. During an attempted robbery, police said Smith slashed the neck of the driver but was unable to remove any property.

Police reported that they were able to retrieve Smith’s wallet and cellphone from the scene of the livery cab slashing, and the driver was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition.

On Monday, police were able to catch Smith near the corner of 31stStreet and Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, where he was taken into custody in connection to the two slashings, according to NBC4.

Fernando Mateo, spokesman of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, said in a statement that the growing use of slashing attacks on drivers is alarming, NBC4 added.

“A box cutter or knife will kill the same as a gun,” Mateo said.