Cops: Investigators Making Progress In Hunt For Union Square Killer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Police still have not established the name of the man they say stabbed a youth soccer coach to death early Sunday morning in Union Square, but police said they are making progress as the investigation into the case continues.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reports
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Michael Jones was found lying on the ground on 14th Street between 5th and 6th avenues around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. He had been slashed several times in the head, neck and chest and one of his ears was cut off, police said.
Jones was pronounced dead on arrival at Bellevue Hospital. Police said a bar fight may have led to the fatal slashing.
"We don't believe he was involved in any fight in the bar," NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
Browne said the stabbing may have been a case of mistaken identity.
"We don't have evidence establishing that, but that hasn't been ruled out as a possibility," Browne told Haskell.
The killer may have thought Jones was involved in the bar fight, Browne said. Jones was seen walking with and apparently arguing with his killer moments before the slashing began on West 14th near Union Square.
"That's a possibility but it's not something we've established as the underlying premise in the investigation," Browne told Haskell.
Investigators have said it appears robbery was not the motive.
Police have also interviewed a woman who said she had a conversation with the killer at the bar.
"Although we haven't identified the killer by name, we've made some progress in the investigation," Browne said.
It remains unclear why surveillance video showed Jones walking with the killer before the attack, Browne said.
Jones was a native of Liverpool, England and was a coach with the Red Bulls Youth Training Program. He lived in West Harrison in Westchester County.
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