A special education teaching assistant at Great Neck North High School was fatally stabbed in his Merrick home on Saturday night, according to Nassau County police.
Lt. Richard LeBrun of the Nassau County Police Department said that Evan Grabelsky, 32, was stabbed multiple times after someone entered the home, where he lived with his family. A struggle ensued throughout the house, LeBrun said, leaving Grabelsky with defensive stab wounds on his arms and torso.
Police said they responded to an “aided case” call and attempted to provide “life saving measures,” but it was quickly found that Grabelsky was not breathing. A police medic pronounced him dead at the scene.
The attack did not appear to be random, LeBrun said, as there were no signs of forced entry. The exact relationship between LeBrun and his attacker is unclear.
“We feel that these two individuals did know each other or had some type of relationship, but at this time, it does not appear to be random,” LeBrun said.
In a statement, the Great Neck school district said faculty members have reached out to children who worked with Grabelsky and notified all staff and parents about the news. It also said that mental health staff is available for grief counseling with students and faculty.
“The Great Neck Public Schools community is devastated to learn about the loss of Evan Grabelsky, a North High School special education teaching assistant,” the district said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Grabelsky’s family during this time.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Grabelsky was a special education paraprofessional at Great Neck North High School since September 2015.
In that position he assisted with daily instruction for students with severe autism spectrum disorder, helped create special strategies for reinforcing skills, and monitored student performance, his LinkedIn profile says.
Grabelsky also worked for three years at the Bellmore-based Camp Iconic, a children’s summer camp, first as a division head and later a camp director.
Prior to this he was a residence hall director in Union College and a school counseling intern at New Hyde Park Memorial High School and Mepham High School, according to his LinkedIn profile.
LeBrun said a “very complex investigation” by the 7th Police Precinct and homicide squad, which will involve tasks like checking video, interviews with neighbors and going onto neighboring properties, is ongoing.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
