HARLEM, NY – A routine afternoon at a Harlem deli spiraled into tragedy when a dispute over a sandwich order ended in a fatal stabbing. The incident unfolded at a bustling deli on Lenox Avenue, where an off-duty postal worker, identified as 36-year-old Ray Hodges from the Bronx, lost his life.
The altercation began as a seemingly innocuous argument between customers about who had placed their order first. Witnesses recounted the rapid escalation that led to Hodges being fatally attacked. Law enforcement officials disclosed that the victim sustained multiple stab wounds to his torso, arms, back, and neck.
Authorities arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, finding the deli’s floor stained with blood and workers visibly shaken. Outside, Hodges’ postal cart remained on the sidewalk, a stark reminder of the violence that had just occurred. Emergency responders rushed Hodges to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect, 24-year-old J.R. Crews, was taken into custody shortly after the attack. Investigators revealed that Crews, who has no known criminal history, was allegedly involved in the confrontation that turned deadly. A weapon was recovered at the scene, although its specific nature remains undisclosed.
Colleagues of Hodges gathered at the crime scene, grappling with the loss of a man they described as kind and amiable. “He was a nice young man,” one colleague shared, visibly distressed by the events.
Meanwhile, a friend of Crews defended her character, insisting that Crews would not have resorted to violence without provocation. “She’s a smart, nice young lady,” the friend stated, emphasizing that Crews acted in self-defense in what she described as a dangerous neighborhood.
Homicide detectives have been meticulously piecing together the sequence of events leading up to the fatal encounter. The investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of Hodges and grapples with the circumstances that led to such a violent outcome.
This tragic incident has sparked discussions about safety and conflict resolution in urban neighborhoods, with many questioning how a disagreement over a sandwich could result in such a devastating outcome.