Suspect in Post Office Stabbing Charged with Attempted Murder

The Carmel Police Department has released the name of the suspect involved in a stabbing at the U.S. Post Office in the Carmel on July 30.

Howard McNiff, 38, of Nanuet, was taken into custody at the scene and has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and two counts of second-degree assault, felonies; as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.

Shortly before 3 p.m. July 30, Putnam County 911 received a report of a disturbance at the location. McNiff is alleged to have entered the post office armed with a knife and stabbed a postal employee – a 61-year-old Carmel man – multiple times in the upper torso. A second postal employee was cut on the arm while attempting to stop the attack.

A Putnam County sheriff’s deputy who arrived first on the scene deployed a Taser on the suspect, who was still chasing the victim, before taking him into custody.

The victim was transported by private vehicle to a local hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released the same day. The second employee declined medical attention.

Preliminary investigation indicates the defendant was known to the victim, making it an isolated incident with no further threat to the community.

McNiff was arraigned July 30 in Carmel Town Court, temporary orders of protection were issued, and he was remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility with a future court date.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Carmel Police Department at 845-628-1300.