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Police: Suspect fatally shot by police in Woodbury wanted for laundromat stabbing; arrested 4 times since last year

The business owner gave News 12 photos of the suspect and knife allegedly used in the attack.

Blaise Gomez

Sep 19, 2024, 9:07 PM

Updated 92 days ago

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News 12 is learning more about the timeline of an alleged crime spree that ended in a suspect, Ali Ali, being fatally shot by police Wednesday in Woodbury.
State police say it started Monday at a Brooklyn laundromat when a woman there told News 12 Brooklyn that her 50-year-old coworker was pounced on by an enraged customer and stabbed in the face multiple times because his laundry wasn’t done.
The business owner gave News 12 Brooklyn photos of the suspect and knife allegedly used in the attack.
“I saw the aftermath with people crowding her and helping her,” said one customer. “Someone saw where he went and pointed police in the right direction.”
On Wednesday, state police say they spotted Ali in a stolen car on the Thruway northbound, not far from exit 16 in Harriman. Ali allegedly caused an early morning fiery crash trying to evade police and took off in the woods barefoot.
Police say he was located in a wooded area of Highland Mills with a knife after a trail camera photographed him nearby. The 38-year-old allegedly refused to comply with police orders to drop the weapon and charged at officers after he was tased twice when he was killed.
So far, it’s not clear if the woman survived the stabbing and different police agencies are giving News 12 conflicting information about the crime or crimes Ali was wanted for. NYPD says he was arrested four times since last year for two sex crimes, robbery and criminal mischief.
The Attorney General’s Office and state police are investigating Ali’s fatal shooting.