2025-01-03 18:15:00
A 36-year-old US Postal Service worker was fatally stabbed on Thursday after an argument over a sandwich order at Joe’s Grocery located on Lenox Road near W. 118th St. in Manhattan, according to law enforcement sources.
Argument Escalates Over Sandwich Order
The postal worker was on duty when he stopped at the deli around 2:30 p.m. to order a sandwich. According to witnesses, a woman in the deli accused him of cutting the line, quickly escalating into a heated altercation.
“It was over a sandwich,” said Janet Rich, a witness in the store at the time. “It was, ‘I was next. No, I was next.’ It was for nothing.” Rich and another bystander tried to defuse the situation.
Tragic Turn of Events
As tensions flared, the postal worker removed his coat, saying, “You want to stab me?” in an apparent challenge. Rich picked up his coat and tried to calm him down, but the argument spiralled out of control.
The woman, described by Rich as approximately 6’5” and appearing to be under the influence of drugs, drew a small steak knife and stabbed the postal worker multiple times.
“She started stabbing him, and the next thing you know, blood was everywhere,” Rich recounted.
Emergency Response and Arrest
Cellphone footage captured the aftermath, showing the injured postal worker lying on the deli floor in a pool of blood as a bystander attempted to help. Medics rushed him to Harlem Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Pending Charges
The suspect remains in custody, with charges still pending as of Thursday night, police confirmed.
Witness to Another Tragedy
In a strange twist, Janet Rich also witnessed another fatal incident earlier that day while working as a hoist operator at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. A worker fell 40 feet to his death in an unrelated accident.
“What a day,” Rich said. “You can’t make this up.” The incident has left the Harlem community shocked and grieving over the senseless loss of life.
