A Bloody Knife Fight in East Harlem: Teen Stabbed to Death, 2 Others Injured

Teen, 17, killed outside restaurant in bloody East Harlem

A deadly altercation outside a Korean restaurant in East Harlem ended with the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy, Carlos Rivas, on Friday evening. The incident, captured on surveillance cameras, has left the local community in shock and mourning.

Details of the Incident

The violence unfolded around 6:15 p.m. outside K-Street Food, located near the corner of East 108th Street and Second Avenue. Rivas and his 22-year-old friend had just placed an order inside the small eatery when they became embroiled in an argument with 62-year-old Saul Sanchez, who was also a customer.

According to witnesses, the altercation appeared trivial at first. “It’s a fight for, I guess, nothing,” said Moon Shin, a 66-year-old employee at K-Street Food who witnessed part of the altercation. The dispute escalated quickly as the three men left the restaurant and began fighting on the sidewalk.

Caught on Camera

Surveillance footage shows Rivas and his friend grappling with Sanchez as the fight spilled outside. In the harrowing video, Sanchez grabs Rivas by the collar and stabs him multiple times in the chest and stomach before the two collapse to the ground.

During the scuffle, Rivas’ friend attempted to intervene by striking Sanchez with a chair and jumping on his back. Sanchez eventually let go of Rivas and turned on the friend, allowing Rivas to stagger briefly before collapsing face-first onto the pavement.

The owner of a nearby smoke shop, who witnessed the incident on his surveillance feed, described the brutal attack. “It was straight stabs,” said the shop owner, identified only as Ray. “You could see [Rivas] was dazed before he just fell to the ground.”

Aftermath

Rivas’ friend tried to comfort him and used napkins provided by the restaurant staff to staunch the bleeding. Rivas remained conscious and spoke briefly with his friend before EMS arrived and transported him to Harlem Hospital. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

The friend, who sustained a stab wound to his arm, was also hospitalized and is expected to recover.

Arrest of the Suspect

Sanchez fled the scene immediately after the attack but returned later and surrendered to authorities. He was taken into custody and charged with murder, assault, and weapons possession. His arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending as of Saturday.

Police have not disclosed what triggered the altercation but are reviewing video evidence and speaking with witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the fight.

A Community in Mourning

Rivas lived in the Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx, just three miles from the site of the attack. He was the second teenager to die violently in the city that evening. About 30 minutes before Rivas’ death, a 17-year-old boy named Andrew Mora was fatally shot in a gang-related attack in the Bronx.

Shin, who witnessed the stabbing, expressed deep sorrow. “I’ve never seen someone die right in front of me,” she said. “I’m a mother, too. I was just thinking of his mother.”

Other Recent Violence

The murder of Carlos Rivas followed another knife attack in Harlem the day before. Ray Hodges, a postal worker, was fatally stabbed during an argument over his place in line at a deli. The suspect in that case, 28-year-old Jaia Cruz, was charged with murder and held without bail.

Calls for Action

The back-to-back killings of young people in New York City have reignited concerns about escalating violence in certain neighborhoods. Community leaders and residents are calling for increased safety measures and programs to address conflicts before they turn deadly.

As police continue their investigation into Rivas’ death, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of violence and the urgent need for solutions to prevent further loss of life.

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