An outraged Museum of Modern Art patron stabbed 2 employees after his membership was revoked, NYPD says

• NYPD are searching for a suspect who stabbed two Museum of Modern Art employees on Saturday.
• Police said the suspect was a regular patron who grew outraged when he was denied entrance to the museum.

A regular patron of New York City's Museum of Modern Art stabbed two employees on Saturday after they denied him entrance due to his revoked membership, NYPD officials said.

The suspect immediately fled the scene and authorities were still searching for him as of Saturday evening, according to John Miller, the NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism.

Miller said the man tried to enter the museum around 4:15 p.m., but the employees told him his membership had been revoked due to two prior disorderly conduct incidents the man had been involved in.

"He became upset about not being allowed entrance, and then jumped over the reception desk and proceeded to attack and stab two employees of the museum multiple times," Miller said. "This was a rapidly unfolding, spontaneous incident."

He added that the employees were both taken to a hospital and were in stable condition. The suspect stabbed them in the back, collarbone, and the back of the neck, Miller said.

Police did not publicly identify the suspect, but described him as a white male wearing a black jacket, a blue surgical mask, and a colorfully patterned shirt.

Miller said the man was known to the police department "because of prior incidents" but did not provide further details.

The stabbing incident caused mayhem throughout the museum, and photos and videos posted to social media on Saturday showed patrons rushing towards the exits.

Mayor Eric Adams tweeted Saturday that he had been briefed on the incident, and that both victims were "expected to survive their injuries."

"We're grateful for the quick work of our first responders," he continued.