New York Metropolis police have arrested and charged a transgender girl in connection to the lethal stabbing of a U.S. Postal Service employee. In response to police, the deadly incident started when the suspect and sufferer acquired into an verbal altercation in a Harlem deli on Jan. 2.
Ray Hodges, 36, had simply delivered a package deal and determined to take a break and order meals at an area deli, in line with the New York Put up. However whereas ordering his meals on the counter, Jaia Cruz, allegedly walked in and interrupted him, in line with a witnesses.
“He [Hodges] was within the retailer counting his cash to examine how a lot he needed to order. She [Cruz] got here in after him and… she put her baggage by the espresso machine and he or she got here to order,” an nameless worker instructed The Put up.
From there, the 2 began arguing and have been ultimately separated by deli employees. Issues shortly escalated, nonetheless, when 24-year-old Cruz allegedly spit in Hodges’ face, in line with the New York Put up. “I used to be within the center, and he was in entrance of me and he or she got here from behind me and spit in his face,” the deli employee stated. “That acquired him mad so he threw the bottle of lemon juice at her.”
In response to the witness, that’s when Cruz pulled out a knife and lunged on the man. Hodge was stabbed a number of instances within the neck, chest, and abdomen, in line with ABC Information. “The postal employee collapsed with the knife by his facet,” Manhattan Assistant District Legal professional Elizabeth Clerkin stated throughout Cruz’s court docket look.
When police arrived, Cruz had already fled the scene. Authorities later discovered her and introduced her into custody. Hodges was delivered to an area hospital the place he was pronounced lifeless.
“The Postal Inspection Service takes issues involving the protection and wellbeing of postal service workers as a prime precedence. We’re working diligently with the New York Metropolis Police Division on this investigation,” the USPS stated in an announcement.
In response to The Put up, Cruz was beforehand arrested 5 instances for violent offenses together with a number of knife assaults. The 24-year-old has now been charged with Hodges’ homicide, in line with USA Immediately.
Flip Morales, a longtime good friend of Hodges, instructed the Day by day Information his good friend was an “wonderful particular person” and a “nice father,” who “was all the time a working man.”