A woman has been charged after a USPS worker was stabbed and killed inside a deli while on the job in Harlem on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Jaia Cruz, 24, of Harlem was charged with the murder of 36-year-old Ray Hodges, according to police.
Officers responded to the deli at 168 Lenox Avenue after 2:30 p.m. and found Hodges stabbed or slashed multiple times inside the deli, including in the torso, arms, back and neck.
He was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem where he was pronounced dead.
“I know the guys that deliver mail,” said resident Uzo Guchiaschi. “And just like this he’s gone. It’s very scary. It’s very, very scary.”
Police say the attack appears to have stemmed from a dispute between two customers over who ordered first, then turned physical.
A weapon has been recovered.
Eyewitness News spoke to a friend of the person of interest, and while she did not know what, or why this happened, she said it’s not in her friend’s character to have attacked someone without a reason. She said her friend wouldn’t have hurt someone unless provoked.