A 24-year-old woman, Jaia Cruz, faces second-degree murder charges following the fatal stabbing of a United States Postal Service (USPS) worker inside a Harlem deli on Thursday afternoon. The victim, identified as 36-year-old Ray Hodges, was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem but succumbed to his injuries. The incident reportedly began with a disagreement between two customers, escalating into the deadly attack on Hodges. Police have recovered the weapon used in the stabbing, but the specific type of weapon has not been publicly disclosed.

Photo taken at the scene of the incident. (Peter Gerber)

Law enforcement at the scene. (Peter Gerber)

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) confirmed that the deceased postal worker was assigned to Manhattan and are collaborating with the NYPD in the ongoing investigation. In a statement, the USPIS emphasized their commitment to the safety and well-being of postal employees, stating, "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."

Image from the scene. (Peter Gerber)