HPP: He is accused of stabbing a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in the stomach while he was waiting in line to purchase lunch. The transgender New Yorker, who is 24 years old, has been charged with murder for the alleged incident.
The victim was identified as Ray Hodge III, a postal carrier who was 36 years old and a father of two children, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
According to the police, he was stabbed numerous times after an argument broke out between him and another individual as they were waiting in line. During the time of the assault, he was reporting for duty.
Jaia Cruz, who is also known by the name Alvin, has been officially identified as the suspect. Cruz was escorted out of the 28th Precinct of the New York Police Department on Thursday, as captured on video.
The face of the suspect, who stood at a height of 6 feet 4 inches, was concealed within a sweatshirt, and Cruz did not answer to questioning that was screamed at him by reporters.
According to the New York Post, Cruz is accused of spitting in the face of the victim and then driving the knife into his stomach during a quarrel that came up because of their respective positions in the queue.
Thursday afternoon, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the assault took place at a deli located on Lenox Avenue in Harlem. Hodge was discovered by the police with many stab wounds to his body, neck, and arms.
He was hurried to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead before being taken to the hospital.
Coworkers of Hodge’s at the United States Postal Service (USPS) referred to him as a “great, kind soul” on social media.
Cruz, who is suspected of the crime, has a criminal history that includes previous instances of knife violence, including a mugging.
Later on today, Cruz was supposed to appear in court for his arraignment at the courthouse.
When the investigation into the New York case continues, the United States Postal Inspection Service, which is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service, is requesting that anybody who has any more information regarding the case contact detectives at the number 1-877-876-2455.
A spokeswoman for the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) that “the Postal Inspection Service takes matters involving the safety and wellbeing (sic) of postal service employees as a top priority.
We are working diligently with the New York City Police Department on this investigation.”
Fake Cop in Houston Arrested for Threatening Teens with Gun Over Fireworks
Following the arrest of a 15-year-old child by Chicago police in connection with the ambush murder of a mail carrier in the Windy City, the slaying has occurred some months after the arrest.
According to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Octavia Redmond, 48, was killed on July 19 when the 19-year-old allegedly got out of a stolen SUV and started fire.
She was also working at the time in question.
“We know that we have to continue delivery every day. That’s the motto: rain, sleet or snow we go,” one of her colleagues, Elise Foster stated. “We don’t do bullets. We can’t do them.”