Woman charged with murder in fatal stabbing of USPS worker at Harlem Deli

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A woman has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of a USPS worker inside a Harlem deli on Thursday afternoon, police said, according to ABC News 7.

Jaia Cruz, 24, of Harlem, faces charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of 36-year-old Ray Hodge III, according to authorities.

Police responded to a 911 call at a deli located at 168 Lenox Avenue shortly after 2:30 p.m. Officers found Hodge inside the store with multiple stab wounds to his torso, arms, back, and neck. He was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators believe the attack stemmed from an argument between two customers over who placed their sandwich order first, escalating into a physical confrontation.

A weapon has been recovered from the scene.

Local resident Uzo Guchiaschi expressed shock at the incident. "I know the guys that deliver mail," he said. "And just like this, he's gone. It's very scary. It's very, very scary."

Eyewitness News interviewed a friend of Cruz, who defended her character, suggesting Cruz would not have acted without provocation. "She's a nice young lady. She is not the type to just come out and attack people," the friend said. "If she said it was self-defense, it was self-defense."

Meanwhile, a group of postal workers arrived at the scene, visibly shaken and mourning their colleague.

"All I'm going to say is he was a nice young man. That's it," said postal worker Kathy Singleton.

Witnesses, including deli employees, corroborated reports that the dispute originated over a sandwich order.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) confirmed Hodge’s employment with the postal service and released a statement emphasizing their commitment to employee safety. "USPIS takes matters involving the safety and wellbeing of postal service employees as a top priority. We are working diligently with the New York City Police Department on this investigation," the statement read.

Details about the weapon used remain unclear.

Cruz was arraigned on Friday and is being held without bail. Her next court date is scheduled for January 8.


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