Oct 9, 2007 5:49 am US/Eastern
Uncle: NYC Stabbing Suspect Is Bipolar, Stopped Taking Meds
Says Nephew Broke Agreement To Get Help, Ran Away
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Lee Coleman was shot by an off-duty police officer after allegedly going on a stabbing spree in Manhattan on Sunday morning. His uncle says he's bipolar and stopped taking his medication.
CBS
On Monday night CBS 2 HD got a first glimpse at the turmoil lurking in the mind of the man who allegedly nearly killed a woman.
His family knew he was suffering from severe mental illness and stopped taking his medication. In an exclusive interview, Lee Coleman's family told us what they believe led to the mayhem.
"I was trying to give my nephew a chance to turn himself in, and get help" Alexander Flowers said. "I waited too long I guess."
Flowers is blaming himself because he wants to blame something. His emotionally deranged nephew, according to witnesses, stabbed total strangers Susan Barron, walking her dog; and Amarjit Singh, a cook at the restaurant where he grabbed the knives.
"He seemed like he was ready to go, and he was understanding what I was saying to him," Flowers said. "We got outside, he bolted."
The only thing that stopped him was Gregory Chin -- an off-duty cop -- who fired his gun.
"I understand that," Flowers said. "The officer in my eyes did what he was supposed to do."
When Flowers tried to alert police, including Det. John Fennell, that his nephew had taken off in distress, he was told there wasn't much that could be done. Since it was still too early in his disappearance, and there was no history of violence. Ironically, Flowers was talking to police in the Bronx about the same time his nephew is accused of being on a rampage in Manhattan.
"Their boss told me they could not do anything because he was not 2 years old or a child. Nor was he 60 years old," Flowers said. "There was nothing they could do."
The family told CBS 2 HD Coleman's mental condition began deteriorating years ago due to a bipolar disorder for which he was on medication. The man once had a career as a model. Coleman's sister, Teresa Gonzalez, also spoke to CBS 2 HD.
"With the mental illness, it does make it so he can't live a normal life," Gonzalez said. "You know, he has to be on medication and so far he has not accepted that he needs to be on medication."
Added Flowers: "He's just a person who fell victim to the system. The system doesn't help … people with mental illness."
Flowers and Gonzalez will visit Coleman again Monday, and they will try again to get their messages of apology to the people he is accused of stabbing.
Both stabbing victims and the alleged attacker are recovering at Bellevue Hospital.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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