Breaking News: USPS Worker Stabbed to Death in NYC Bodega Dispute; Latina Youth Detained
Photo Credit: Fernando Martínez | Impremedia
Ray Hodges, a 36-year-old U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee, was fatally stabbed in a dispute over a sandwich at a Harlem bodega in New York City. Jaia Cruz, a young Latina, has been arrested and accused of the homicide.
Second Bodega Death in NYC in 2025
NYPD officers responded to the dispute at 168 Lenox Avenue around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and found Hodges with multiple stab wounds to his torso, arms, back, and neck. He was pronounced dead at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.
This tragedy marks the second death outside a New York City bodega in the early days of 2025, both occurring in Harlem. The NYPD reported that the altercation began over a disagreement between two customers about who ordered first, escalating into a physical altercation. A weapon was recovered at the scene, and Hodges’ mail cart remained on the sidewalk last night, suggesting he was attacked during a break from his delivery route.
FriendSpeaks Out
A friend of the detained Cruz told ABC News that such violent behavior is uncharacteristic of her. Although she was unaware of the details surrounding the incident, she believed that Cruz would only defend herself if provoked.
"She’s a nice girl," the friend said, requesting anonymity. "She’s not the type to go out and attack people. It’s a dangerous neighborhood. I don’t know what happened because I wasn’t there, but if she said it was self-defense, it was self-defense."
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
