A trans woman has been charged with murder for fatally stabbing a postal worker in New York City while waiting in line to buy lunch.
Jaia Cruz, 24, allegedly stabbed and killed Ray Hodge III, 36, after an argument broke out between the two last week inside a Harlem deli.
The 6-foot-4 Cruz pleaded not guilty after being charged with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of manslaughter with intent to cause bodily harm.
She was seen being led away in handcuffs from a police station last Thursday, the same day of the deadly encounter.
Cruz allegedly spit in Hodge’s face and stabbed him multiple times with a steak knife at the deli after the couple argued over whose turn it was to order.
Hodge was found with injuries to his torso, neck and arms, but ultimately died from his injuries last Thursday. The police found him injured on the ground in his postal uniform.
A sandwich maker at the deli told him Daily news that Cruz allegedly stood in front of Hodge to make a request. “After I separated them, she came up behind me and spit in his face,” the deli worker said. The worker then added that Hodge threw a plastic bottle at Cruz, who responded by throwing a knife at him.
Jaia Cruz, 24, allegedly stabbed and killed Ray Hodge III, 36, after an argument broke out between the two last week inside a Harlem deli.
Hodge was found with injuries to his torso, neck and arms, and died from his injuries last Thursday. The police found him injured on the ground in his postal uniform.
Cruz allegedly spit in Hodge’s face and stabbed him multiple times with a steak knife at a Harlem deli after the pair argued over whose turn it was to order.
‘She stabbed him in the neck and another in the stomach. “He kept fighting, so we called the police, the ambulance, but he lost and died,” the worker said.
Another customer, Janet Rich, told the outlet, “It was for a sandwich.” It was “I was next. No, I was next.”
Rich and another customer tried to intervene, but neither Cruz nor Hodge would back down, Rich said.
“I got between them…twice,” said Rich, who recalled another woman joining him and trying to get Hodge to leave.
“Don’t do this, you have a good job, let it go,” Rich recalled the other woman saying.
Rich said Hodge, however, took off his coat and told Cruz, ‘Do you want to stab me?’
Cruz allegedly ran to her nearby home after the altercation, but was arrested shortly after and charged with second-degree murder, the Daily News reported.
Hodge’s brother told the outlet: ‘Ray was a great person. He was an honorable man. He took care of his family and everyone. Respectful.’
“He was just trying to make some money. That’s all. Just get up and do what you have to do to support your kids and your family, and things like this (happen),’ said his old friend Flip Morales.
Cruz pleaded not guilty after being charged with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter with intent to cause bodily harm.
Hodge’s brother told the outlet: ‘Ray was a great person. He was an honorable man. He took care of his family and everyone. Respectful’
An old friend of the postal worker, Flip Morales, described Hodge as “an amazing person.”
‘He was a great father, a great person. He was always a working man. I would see him and he just goes to work. It’s a disaster that the family has to go through this.Ugh, this,’ Morales said.
‘He was just trying to make some money. That’s all. Just getting up there doing what you have to do to support your kids and your family, and things like this (happen).’
Friends, family and neighbors set up a memorial outside his home in the Bronx, placing his postal visor and candles.
Cruz’s attorney, Mitchell Schuman, denied that the incident arose from an argument at the deli.
“What this case is really about is how a woman has to live her life day in and day out in fear – like so many other trans women across this country – in fear of being mocked, harassed, assaulted, often with fear for their lives for just existing,” Schuman said.
“I don’t think we should rush to judge Jaia Cruz or anyone else until we have walked a mile in their shoes.”
Attorney Mitchell Schuman, who represents Cruz, said: “What this case is really about is how a woman has to live her life day in and day out in fear – like so many other trans women across this country – in fear of being mocked, harassed and attacked, often fearing for their lives for simply existing.’
“Any act of violence affects both or all parties and can tear communities apart,” said Shauna Brooks, the group’s Director of Community Engagement. ‘All I want is for Mrs. Cruz to have a fair chance at justice. Some situations are tragic everywhere, and this is one of them.
A leader of the advocacy organization Strategic Transgender Alliance for Radical Reform (STARR) called the incident “tragic in every way.”
A leader of the defense organization Strategic Transgender Alliance for Radical Reform (STARR) called the incident “tragic all around.”
“Any act of violence affects both or all parties and can tear communities apart,” said Shauna Brooks, the group’s Director of Community Engagement.
‘All I want is for Mrs. Cruz to have a fair chance at justice. Some situations are tragic in every aspect and this is one of them.
Cruz’s case was adjourned until January 22 and she will be held without bail until her next court appearance.