Investigators say a Sunday argument inside a Travis Avenue split home turned deadly; a 23-year-old is in custody.
ELMONT, NY — A 23-year-old Elmont resident has been charged with murder after his 33-year-old housemate was fatally stabbed during an argument inside their Travis Avenue home early Sunday afternoon, Nassau County police and prosecutors said.
Authorities said the confrontation unfolded around 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, at a split-level residence near Travis and Sweetman avenues. The case is in its early stages, with detectives processing evidence and prosecutors preparing initial filings. The arrest comes amid the holiday period, when many neighborhoods are quieter and visibility is high for any violent crime. Officials said they are working to establish a full timeline from the dispute to the arrest and are interviewing witnesses as they seek to determine what led to the fatal encounter and whether any prior conflicts inside the home played a role.
According to prosecutors, the victim, identified as Jasson Phillips, 33, returned to his room after a verbal dispute with his housemate, identified by authorities as Desean Harrison, 23. “Harrison then entered Phillips’ room with a knife and stabbed him multiple times,” prosecutors said. Police units and crime scene detectives remained in the area for hours Sunday as a section of Travis and Sweetman avenues was closed to traffic during the evidence sweep. Phillips was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Harrison was taken into custody nearby and later charged with murder, officials said.
Investigators said the stabbing happened inside the home and that there was no threat to the surrounding blocks once the suspect was detained. Officials did not immediately list a specific motive beyond the reported argument inside the residence. Neighbors told officers they saw emergency lights and crime scene tape stretching along the intersection while detectives collected items from the house. Family members described Phillips as “a good man who was resilient and a hard worker,” and said he worked with children with developmental disabilities. Authorities did not release the type of knife recovered or confirm whether prior police calls had been logged at the address. The medical examiner will finalize the cause and manner of death following an autopsy.
Elmont, an unincorporated hamlet near the Nassau–Queens border, has seen stepped-up patrols during year-end holidays, and police typically flood key corridors like Dutch Broadway and Elmont Road. While Nassau County’s violent crime rates remain low compared with major cities, homicides are closely watched because they often involve disputes among people who know one another. Officials said Sunday’s killing fits that pattern, occurring inside a shared home rather than in a public space. Similar roommate or housemate cases elsewhere on Long Island in recent years have prompted calls for better handling of domestic disputes, though authorities emphasized each incident turns on its own facts and evidence.
Prosecutors said the suspect faces a top count of murder, with additional charges possible as evidence is reviewed. An arraignment in Nassau County court is expected as early as Monday or Tuesday, depending on the processing schedule during the holiday week. At the hearing, a judge will address bail or remand and enter an initial plea. Detectives are reviewing statements from people who were in contact with the men on Sunday and canvassing for any doorbell or surveillance video. Officials said lab testing will examine the knife and any clothing seized, and investigators plan to reconstruct the sequence from the argument to the stabbing using phone records and witness timelines. Authorities did not announce a defense attorney for the suspect as of late Monday.
On Travis Avenue Monday, flowers and candles appeared near the property line as relatives stopped by in small groups. A neighbor who has lived on the block for more than a decade said residents were startled to find their street cordoned off for most of Sunday. Family members said Phillips often worked long shifts and recently talked about opportunities in caregiving. “He showed up for people,” one relative said outside the house, adding that the family is leaning on their faith as they prepare funeral arrangements. Police vehicles made periodic passes as detectives returned to the home to finish measurements and photographs before the scene was fully cleared.
As of Monday evening, the street had reopened and the house remained a focal point for the investigation, with the next key step expected at the arraignment, when prosecutors will outline preliminary evidence and a judge will set the legal calendar. Officials said they will release additional information, including charging documents and any enhanced timeline, after the court appearance.
Author note: Last updated December 29, 2025.