1 dead in fatal stabbing at NYC bodega, suspect at large: NYPD

QUEENS, NY (PIX11) — Police are still investigating a deadly stabbing attack that occurred Saturday at a bodega in Jamaica, Queens, that left one person dead and the suspect is still on the run.

According to witnesses, the altercation between the two men began in front of a Dollar General before one of them ran across the street and entered the store, where the fatal stabbing occurred.

“The doors were locked, but the guys were trying to open them,” said Catherine Chiriboga. She was closing up the Dollar General store on the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 169th Street in Jamaica when she heard a commotion outside. “We saw two guys arguing; they came around the truck, and I just saw one of them going at the other one like that.”

Catherine says she saw the two men waving knives and arguing.

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

“They said you lock the door. He stole my wallet,” says Wavy Eli, who was across the street. He is one of the bodega employees who witnessed an altercation. The two men and the victim threw objects at each other before one of them got close enough to stab him. “The guy takes a knife and starts stabbing.”

The NYPD confirmed it happened around 10 p.m. on Saturday. A man in his 40s was found dead inside the bodega with multiple stab wounds to his neck and shoulder. Local business owners tell us they are concerned for their safety and their customers.’

“It’s very disturbing because when you hear something like that, it puts a bad name on the avenue,” says Jonathan Hadef, who owns a business. His father Maurice adds: “People are afraid to come to Jamaica Avenue because there is crime there, you know, and crime is not good.”

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