A shocking courthouse attack unfolded the morning of June 16, when a knife-wielding maniac slashed two officers at Manhattan Criminal Court in Lower Manhattan, according to law enforcement sources. The suspect, 37-year-old Jonathan Wohl of Queens, stormed into the lobby at 100 Centre Street around 9:30 a.m. and launched a brutal, unprovoked assault.
Wohl slashed one officer twice across the face and cut another on the neck before shoving a third into a barrier. The attacker had no scheduled court appearance and no clear motive, sources said.
Court records show Wohl has a history of 18 arrests, primarily for drug-related offenses. Only three of his cases remain active. A police source noted that Wohl had been a recurring problem at the courthouse. “He’s always harassing the court officers,” the source said. “He said he wanted to kill them.”
The attack underscores mounting concerns over courthouse safety. The New York State Supreme Court Officers Association has warned that staffing levels in city courthouses are “bleak,” posing risks to judges, jurors, and the public.
The assault has renewed calls for increased security. As one officer put it, “It’s only a matter of time before something worse happens if these threats aren’t taken seriously.”
