School Hiring: Ex-cop accused of fatal stabbing worked at PS 200 despite red flags

Brooklyn parents are facing the reality that the man accused of fatally stabbing a jogger worked in their children's hallway for months. Sayed Mohassib, 27, served as a paraprofessional at PS 200 before and after the alleged incident. His employment raises immediate questions about how city schools vet staff for positions that involve direct contact with elementary students.

The Department of Education stated on Tuesday that its hiring process includes a fingerprint-supported background investigation and a detailed questionnaire. The agency said applicants must certify their answers are truthful and must disclose previous adverse employment, military service, and criminal history. However, the department did not specify how it verifies the honesty of those self-reported answers or how it cross-checks external records.

Mohassib’s history presents several data points that standard checks might have flagged. He worked for the NYPD for six weeks in 2022 before joining the Marine Corps. The Marines discharged him after one month due to mental health issues. When he reapplied to the police force, officials rejected his application. Sources said an ambulance transported him to Bellevue Hospital for a mental health evaluation after he exhibited erratic behavior during that period.

In 2024, police responded to Mohassib’s family home after he threatened to chop up his relatives. That same year, Department of Education records show he was employed by the agency. It remains unclear whether he omitted his service with the Marines and NYPD on his questionnaire or if the department failed to investigate those periods. Former Deputy Chancellor Eric Nadelstern, who served in the Bloomberg administration, called the hiring outcome startling. He asked if the department cut corners, noting that background checks should look for behavioral control and substance abuse histories.

Parents at PS 200 expressed frustration during a meeting held this morning. One mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said school administrators mentioned a previous hallway incident involving Mohassib. She stated that no answers were provided regarding that incident or his hiring. Her response was to leave the meeting feeling disgusted. Another parent, Tan ver Awan, questioned the logic of hiring without adequate checks. He argued that the role requires a higher level of caution than other city jobs.

Sources indicate Mohassib openly told coworkers he suffered from mental health issues and took medication. The department cited federal law prohibiting access to workers' medical records. In the weeks before the victim's death, at least ten coworkers filed complaints about his behavior. These included a blank stare, a gun pendant worn to school, and Instagram posts featuring full-torso tattoos with the words Allah and Death. Administrators reportedly told staff to stay off social media if they disliked the photos and suggested some complaints were rooted in racism.

Mohassib began as a part-time worker and moved to a full-time paraprofessional role in March. His aunt works as an assistant principal at another city school, and his sister is a paraprofessional at PS 200, where he was once a student. City Councilman Frank Morano announced he will introduce legislation to strengthen the hiring process. He said he is not claiming the department broke rules but is asking if the current rules are sufficient. Officials from the United Federation of Teachers and the PS 200 principal's office did not respond to requests for comment.