Mamdani orders probe of Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric policies after homeless man allegedly murdered senior hours after discharge | amNewYork

"A homeless man booked on murder charges for allegedly shoving a man down a flight of stairs to his death in Chelsea on Thursday had been discharged from Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric ward hours before the homicide, it was reported. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Rhamell Burke, allegedly attacked 76-year-old Ross Falzone at the entrance to the 18th Street station in an unprovoked assault at 9:36 p.m. on May 7."

"Burke had allegedly committed the crime hours after being discharged from Bellevue, where he had been brought by police on Thursday afternoon for a psychiatric evaluation. On Friday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered an investigation into how hospital administrators had allowed Burke to leave so quickly. I am horrified by the killing of Ross Falzone and the circumstances that led to it. I extend my condolences to his loved ones, Mamdani said in a May 8 statement."

"New Yorkers deserve answers. That is why I've directed NYC Health + Hospitals to conduct both an immediate investigation on what steps should have been taken to prevent this tragedy and a comprehensive review of their psychiatric evaluation and discharge protocols. Bellevue Hospital.Photo by Dean Moses Officers from the 13th Precinct located Falzone at the station entrance located at the corner of West 18th Street and 7th Avenue after receiving a 911 call about the assault."

"The victim was unconscious and unresponsive; citing officials, ABC7 reported that Falzone had suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as a broken spine and rib. EMS rushed him to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition; he would later die of his injuries. Sources familiar with the investigation said Burke was located at about 3:30 p.m. on May 8 on the uptown platform of the C/E trains at the 34th Street-Penn Station stop. Transit police took him into custody without further incident."

A 32-year-old homeless man, Rhamell Burke, was charged with murder after allegedly shoving 76-year-old Ross Falzone down a flight of stairs to his death near the 18th Street station in Chelsea. The assault occurred at 9:36 p.m. on May 7 and was described as unprovoked. Burke had been brought to Bellevue Hospital on Thursday afternoon for a psychiatric evaluation and was discharged from the psychiatric ward hours before the homicide. Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered an investigation into how hospital administrators allowed Burke to leave quickly, including an immediate review of steps that should have prevented the tragedy and a comprehensive review of psychiatric evaluation and discharge protocols. Falzone was found unconscious and unresponsive, suffered severe injuries, was taken to Bellevue in critical condition, and later died. Transit police took Burke into custody on May 8 without further incident.

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