REGO PARK, NY – A man was fatally stabbed during an early morning altercation inside a bodega in Queens on Tuesday. The cause of the dispute is currently believed to be related to beer, according to city officials.
The incident, which took place around 12:30 a.m., resulted in a customer, presumed to be in his 20s or 30s, receiving a fatal knife wound to the chest. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A bystander recalled the events that took place at the distressing scene. He remembered seeing the stabbing victim lying on the ground, and he attempted to slow the man’s bleeding as others around them called 911 for help.
While no immediate charges were filed, law enforcement reported that a bodega employee was undergoing questioning.
The United Bodegas of America (UBA) appealed for restraint from the public and media, calling for patience until the NYPD concludes its investigation. In its public statement, it expressed hope that the incident’s video footage would shed light on the truth of events.
The statement read: “This is tragic, this is what we were trying to avoid, someone losing their life. We ask the public and the media not to jump to conclusions until NYPD detectives have pieced the puzzle.” Fernando Mateo, a spokesperson for the UBA, said.
The investigation remains ongoing, with an appeal for any information from the public.