2 Knife Attacks In Less Than 24-Hours Shake Washington Heights

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — One person was killed and a woman was slashed across her face in two separate knife attacks over the weekend in Washington Heights.

In the days since, remembrances of a 17-year-old full of life have been shared, fundraisers have been started, video of one of the attacks has circulated, and police continue to look for the people responsible.

The two attacks took place just a four-minute walk from one another.

The first was on Friday when a man strolled into Steph's Design store at 3:40 p.m. on 371 Audubon Avenue and started a conversation with 22-year-old Desteny Cabrera, who was the lone staffer at the time.

"He asked me if I knew who he was and I said, 'No,'" Cabrera told WPIX11 from her Harlem hospital bed.

Almost instantly after the exchange of words, a video of the attack shows the man lunge at Cabrera, slashing her across her face.

The attacker fled the store as Cabrera stood in shock behind the workstation with blood flowing down her face. The 22-year-old was cut badly across her nose and was rushed to a Harlem Hospital in serious condition, according to police.

Cabrera survived the attack, but is now looking at a long road of reconstructive surgery.

"I nearly lost my life, I am beyond grateful and blessed to be alive," she wrote on her Instagram. "Due to the fact I was seriously injured, which led me to emergency surgery, I'll be needing multiple reconstructions."

Cabrera and her boss told the New York Post that despite not recognizing the attacker, the same man was seen a week earlier peering into the Steph Design store and passing by several times.

A GoFundMe campaign was started for Cabrera over the weekend.

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"She will be out of work until God knows when with large medical bills," the author of the fundraiser wrote. "Unfortunately we live in a world where first impressions matter and now my friend’s face is ruined because of a hate crime organized by God knows who."

As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe has raised $24,000 if its $50,000 goal.

Police are still looking for the man responsible.

Less than 24-hours after Cabrera was slashed on 371 Audubon Avenue, a second knife attack happened in Washington Heights.

A 17-year-old was stabbed to death just after 2 p.m. near the corner of West 181st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, according to police.

The teen flagged down emergency services as they arrived to tell them he was injured, police said. He was quickly transported to Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, where he later died, according to police.

He was identified Sunday morning as Gerardo Rivas.

A GoFundMe was started Sunday for Rivas to help with funeral and memorial services.

"We never expected to lose our loved one to an act of violence and hate. Gerardo was full of life and happiness," the authors of the fundraiser wrote. "He was selfless and always willing to help his family and others. He was kind and always made others laugh and smile. This mentality isn't innate for all, but for Gerardo, it was."

As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe has raised $16,000 of its $30,000 goal.

The circumstances of the stabbing are unknown, and the investigation into the attacker is ongoing.

Editor's note: Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.