Harlem, NY – A tragic confrontation in a Harlem deli has claimed the life of a postal worker, marking the third homicide in New York City in just the first two days of the new year.

The victim, identified as Ray Hodges, 36, was a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier assigned to Manhattan. According to authorities, the incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. on Thursday inside a deli located at 168 Lenox Avenue.

Sources indicate that the altercation began as a dispute over a spot in line. Witnesses reported that the suspect, Jaia Cruz, 24, became enraged when Hodges allegedly stepped ahead of her. The confrontation escalated violently, with Cruz fatally stabbing Hodges multiple times in the stomach. Blood was reportedly smeared across the deli’s floors and glass door in the aftermath.

Hodges was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Cruz was arrested at the scene, and the weapon used in the attack was recovered by authorities. She has been charged with murder.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) confirmed Hodges’ death in a statement:

“The Postal Inspection Service can confirm that on January 2, 2025, a United States Postal Service letter carrier, assigned to Manhattan, was the victim of a homicide. USPIS takes matters involving the safety and well-being of postal service employees as a top priority. We are working diligently with the New York State Police Department on this investigation.”

Dr. Iesha Sekou, founder and CEO of Street Corner Resources, an anti-violence organization, spent the afternoon comforting Hodges’ grieving mother and family at the hospital. Sekou expressed concern over the rising violence in the city:

“It’s sad that during the holiday season, you have to constantly look around and be cautious. The energy is flat and fearful. We have to become a stronger, better city.”

The incident is the third homicide reported in New York City since the start of the year.

On January 1, a 50-year-old man was found with fatal neck slash wounds at the corner of West 137th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem. He succumbed to his injuries at Harlem Hospital.

Shortly after, Mario Fowler, 46, was shot multiple times, including in both legs, outside an apartment building on East 170th Street in the Bronx. He was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.

The spate of violence has raised alarms among residents and officials. Law enforcement and community organizations continue to emphasize the need for vigilance and collaborative efforts to reduce crime and ensure public safety.

The investigation into Hodges’ death remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.