A tragic incident occurred in Harlem when a postal worker was brutally stabbed to death by a woman over a dispute about a spot in line at a deli. The accused, Jaia Cruz, has a troubling history of knife violence, with at least five prior arrests before this heinous act.
One such incident took place in July 2020, where Cruz was caught waving an open box cutter at another individual in Midtown West, threatening to harm them. Despite being ordered to get on the ground by law enforcement, Cruz refused and was subsequently arrested for resisting arrest. Just two weeks later, she was arrested again for participating in a tag-team robbery using knives to steal a man’s phone and wallet.
Cruz, who is transgender, now faces murder charges for the fatal stabbing of Ray Hodges, a USPS letter carrier who was attacked while grabbing lunch at a deli on Lenox Ave. The altercation reportedly began when Hodges skipped ahead in line in front of Cruz, leading to a violent confrontation where she allegedly stabbed him in the stomach. Despite being rushed to Harlem Hospital, Hodges tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The senseless loss of life has left the community in shock and mourning. A memorial site has been set up in honor of Hodges, a 36-year-old dedicated postal worker. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked violence and the importance of addressing mental health and anger management issues in our society.
