The girlfriend of Davide Giri, a Columbia University student who was fatally stabbed Thursday, said they were preparing to begin their lives together once he finished his PhD.
Ana Gonzalez spoke Friday, shortly before 25-year-old gang member Vincent Pickney was escorted into NPYD Central Booking on Friday night and charged with murder.
Giri, 30, a PhD candidate in computer science, died around 11pm Thursday after being stabbed in the stomach by Pickney, a member of the Bloods gang off-shoot, Everybody Killas, who has 16 prior arrests dating back to 2012 and was out on parole for a 2015 gang assault, police said.
Gonzalez said that she was in a relationship with Giri that was going places.
‘We had a long story, and we had plans for a life together soon after the end of his PhD in the beginning of next year,’ she said.
Ana Gonzalez, seen here with boyfriend Davide Giri, said she and the fatally stabbed Columbia student had plans for a life together after he got his PhD
Gonzalez was was reticent to speak to reporters, still speaking in the present tense about Giri, saying ‘we are together’
Columbia University held a memorial service Friday night for Giri that was attended by over 2,000 people
Davide Giri, 30, (right) a PhD candidate in computer science at Columbia University, died after being stabbed in the stomach by Vincent Pickney (left)
The university held a memorial service Friday night for Giri that was attended by over 2,000 people.
Gonzales was was reticent to speak to reporters, still speaking in the present tense about Giri, saying ‘we are together.’
‘He was a kind and loving person,’ she added.
Columbia University President Lee Bollinger spoke about Giri at the memorial, calling him a ‘brilliant young man.’
‘I extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to each and every one. I send our love and support to Davide’s parents and family.’
Giri was a sixth-year doctoral student in the Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Vincent Pinkney, 25, was escorted into NPYD Central Booking on Friday night after he was arrested and charged with the stabbing murder of Columbia student Davide Giri in a wild Manhattan knife spree
Pinkney is a member of Bloods gang off-shoot, Everybody Killas, who has at least 11 prior arrests dating back to 2012 and was out on parole for a 2015 gang assault, police said
On Friday night, Pinkney was transferred from the 26 Precinct to Central Booking, wearing a white Tyvek jumpsuit. The five-foot-five, 140-pound suspect was escorted in handcuffs by two burly NYPD detectives
Pinkney reportedly moved south on his stabbing spree, moving from Morningside Heights to Central Park
Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil held for Columbia University graduate student Davide Giri on Friday in New York City
The fatal stabbing of Giri took place just a block away from where Bernard College student Tessa Majors, 18, was viciously stabbed to death in December 2019 as violent crimes continue to rise in New York City.
Davide Giri was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead
Bollinger wrote in an email to students: ‘I write with great sorrow to share the tragic news that Davide Giri, a graduate student at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, was killed in a violent attack near campus on Thursday night.
‘This news is both unspeakably sad and deeply shocking, as it took place only steps from our campus. ‘
Police said Pinkney has a lengthy rap sheet that includes robberies and assaults and other alleged crimes.
He was previously convicted of gang assault in 2015 and served two years of a four-year sentence in jail before being let out on parole, according to state Department of Corrections records.
Police said Giri was the first victim of the stabbing spree and was attacked just before 11 p.m. on Thursday at 123rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, in Morningside Heights.
Giri, a Brooklyn resident and Italian native, was stabbed on his way to his apartment after playing in a soccer match with his club NY International FC, the New York Post reported.
He was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One Columbia student told the Daily News that Pinkney had been howling in joy after he knifed Giri and moved on to the second victim.
‘He was ecstatic,’ the student said.
Giri had traveled the world, studying in Torino, Italy; Shanghai, China; and Chicago before settling in the Big Apple for his doctoral degree at Columbia.
‘He really liked New York,’ Giri’s friend, Mattias Mengoni told the Post. ‘He found it welcoming and multicultural. He was very accepting of all people from all backgrounds and New York was giving that to him.’
Bollinger said the university is working with the NYPD to learn more details about the attack.
‘These are moments when being in a community really matters. I, therefore, encourage you to seek out and be with others, who will need you as much as you need them,’ Bollinger wrote to students.
Hundreds attend a candlelight vigil held for Columbia University graduate student Davide Giri. Giri was traveling home from soccer practice when police say he was stabbed in the abdomen by a gang member
Giri was murdered a few blocks away from where 18-year-old, Barnard College student, Tessa Majors was fatally stabbed in December of 2019
Vincent Pinkney is seen leaving the 26 Precinct in Manhattanville and headed for Central Booking on Friday
Detectives escort Pinkney out of the 26 after questioning him there in the murder and stabbing spree
Police said Pinkney has a lengthy rap sheet that includes robberies and assaults and other alleged crimes
Investigators said Giri was attacked at 11pm on Thursday just outside the university’s historic NYC campus
Police continue to investigate the fatal stabbing, which occurred a block from where Tessa Majors was killed in 2019
NY International FC wrote on Twitter: ‘There on no words to describe how we are feeling. Last night, after practice and while going back home, our lovely teammate and pillar of the club, Davide Giri, was fatally stabbed. Davide was the nicest and brightest person on the team.’
The Columbia student who witnessed the second stabbing told the Daily News that Pinkney ran up to Malastina and stabbed him in the back and chest as the tourist cried, ‘Why? Why? Help me!’
The third man allegedly terrorized by Pinkney was walking by Central Park with his girlfriend when the gang member began threatening them with a large kitchen knife. The couple fled the scene and called police.
Police officials have said the attacks appeared to be unprovoked and conducted at random.
Columbia University tweeted out a message about Giri’s death as they continue to work with police investigators
David (seen in white) played for local soccer team NY International FC. He was on his way home from a game when he was killed
Giri (left) was an academic who studied in Italy, China and Chicago before deciding to work on his PhD at Columbia