Migrant stabbed to death outside New York shelter converted into dormitory

Metro

By Ronny Reyes

A migrant was stabbed to death Sunday morning after arguing with another man outside the East Harlem migrant shelter where they both lived, police said.

The victim, 29, got into an argument with another 30-year-old migrant when he was stabbed in the chest around 4:02 a.m. at Third Avenue and East 97th Street, New York police said.

The victim, who was not immediately identified, was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A 30-year-old suspect was taken into custody and charges were still pending as of Sunday evening.

Police said an investigation into the murder was still ongoing.

The incident took place outside the 500-family migrant shelter that the city opened last year in the former dormitory complex for Hunter College and Baruch College students.

The 19-story building, located at 1760 Third Ave. between 97th and 98th streets, was billed as the city's 12th emergency humanitarian response and relief center, intended to house migrants with children.

It was not immediately clear whether the men involved in Sunday's incidents were both fathers of children living at the shelter.

This is not the first time conflict has erupted over a fatal stabbing in one of the city's new migrant shelters. Another man was stabbed to death Jan. 7 at the nearby Randall's Island shelter.

Security concerns have prompted police to install security cameras around migrant shelters to try to curb the growing number of violent incidents, police sources said.