1 dead in fatal stabbing at New York bodega, suspect on the run: NYPD

QUEENS, NY (PIX11) – Police are still investigating a fatal stabbing that happened Saturday at a bodega in Jamaica, Queens, that left one person dead. The suspect is still at large.

Witnesses say the altercation between two men began outside a Dollar General before one of them ran across the street and entered the bodega where the fatal attack took place.

“The doors were locked, but the guys were trying to open the door,” says Catherine Chiriboga. She was closing up the Dollar General store on Jamaica Ave and 169th Street in Jamaica when she heard a commotion outside. “We saw two guys arguing; They went around the truck and I just saw one guy heading towards the other guy like that.

Catherine said she saw the two men brandishing knives and arguing.

“One just ran across the street, and then the other one met another guy with a blue backpack, and he handed him the blue backpack, and they ran across the street,” Chiriboga added .

“They said: you lock the door. He stole my wallet,” said Wavy Eli, who was across the street. He was one of the bodega employees who witnessed a confrontation. The two men and the victim were throwing objects at each other before one of them got close enough to stab him. “The guy took a knife and started stabbing.”

The New York Police Department confirmed that it happened around 10 p.m. on Saturday, a man in his 40s was found dead inside the bodega with multiple stab wounds to the neck and back. shoulder. Local business owners tell us they are worried about their safety and that of their customers.

“It’s very worrying because when you hear things like that, it gives the avenue a bad reputation,” said Jonathan Hadef, a business owner. His father, Maurice, adds: “People are afraid to come to Jamaica Avenue because there's crime, you know, and crime doesn't do any good. »

Authorities say the suspect fled eastbound on Jamaica Avenue, wearing a gray shirt. No arrests have been made so far.