Katie Suarez, a 28-year-old Brooklyn woman, was looking forward to meeting her parents after an evening run when an unexpected attack left her fighting for her life. What began as an ordinary Friday evening in New York City has now become an ongoing police investigation, with authorities searching for the person responsible.
Suarez had finished her shift at TD Bank on October 30 and changed into her running clothes, preparing for another training session ahead of the New York City Marathon. She had also arranged to meet her parents after her run.
According to reports, she spoke with her father by phone shortly before 8 p.m. and told him she was only about half a mile away. When she failed to arrive and stopped answering calls, her parents became concerned.
Her father eventually went looking for her and found her seriously injured along the Shore Parkway Greenway near Bay 17th Street in Brooklyn’s Bath Beach neighborhood.
A Routine Evening Took A Terrible Turn
Police said Suarez sustained multiple injuries to her neck during the attack, which occurred at approximately 8 p.m.
Emergency responders transported her to NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, where she was initially listed in critical condition.
According to the latest reports on November 2, Suarez had suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was reportedly declared brain dead. She remains on life support as her family faces an incredibly difficult situation.
Investigators believe the attack may have been random, although no motive has been officially established. Reports indicate that her cellphone and jewelry were not taken, and authorities have not identified a clear connection between Suarez and the person responsible.
She Was Preparing For The New York City Marathon
Suarez was reportedly training for the New York City Marathon, which took place on November 1.
Her dedication to running makes the circumstances especially heartbreaking. She had spent time preparing for the event and was following her usual routine when the incident occurred.
New York Road Runners, the organization behind the marathon, expressed sympathy for Suarez and her family, saying its thoughts were with the victim and the running community.
The organization confirmed that Suarez had previously participated in its races, although it could not independently verify whether she planned to compete in this year’s marathon.
Police Continue Searching For Answers
The NYPD has released Suarez’s photograph and is asking anyone who may have seen her or noticed unusual activity in the area to come forward.
Investigators are particularly interested in information from people who were near the eastbound bike path along the Belt Parkway between Bay 8th Street and Bay 17th Street between 7:56 p.m. and 8:12 p.m. on October 30.
Authorities have not announced an arrest or released a description of a suspect.
Detectives are also examining the surrounding area and gathering available evidence to reconstruct the events leading up to the attack.
The case has raised concerns among local residents and runners who regularly use the waterfront path, particularly during evening hours.
For Suarez’s family, however, the immediate focus remains on her condition and the difficult days ahead.
A Family Still Searching For Answers
What makes the case particularly painful is how close Suarez was to reuniting with her parents that evening. She had spoken with her father, told him she was nearby and was expected to arrive shortly.
Instead, he became the person who found her after she failed to appear.
As the investigation continues, her family and the wider Brooklyn community are waiting for answers about who approached her and why.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online or through @NYPDTips.
For now, the search for the person responsible continues, while those who know Katie Suarez hope for answers and remember a young woman who had simply been making her way through an ordinary evening.