Two men were killed in separate incidents Saturday afternoon, one in Brooklyn and the other in the Bronx.
A 22-year-old man was stabbed to death in a fight outside a Canarsie deli.
Police said they were called to East 87th Street and Avenue L at 2:38 p.m. for an assault and found the victim with multiple stab wounds.
He was taken to Brookdale University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
His identity was not immediately released pending notification of his family.
A 57-year-old resident who said he has lived in Canarsie for 51 years, described the victim as “very well known in the community” and said he had just had a drink with him at a local bar a few nights ago.
“If you needed something he’d get something for you, he’d go shopping for you if you need something,” the resident, who gave his name as Scott said.
Scott said there had been a long-standing tension between the victim and his attacker.
“They were fighting every day, they were together arguing, cursing, so it came out today,” he said
Kim Sadler, 39, who lives in the neighborhood said she saw two men fighting outside Canarsie One Stop Market.
“They was arguing back and forth, then the guy throw the [liquor] bottle and the other guy began to stab him,” she said. “He was swift like he was a professional stabber.”
Sadler, who said she recently moved to the area, complained about the amount of people and activity outside the deli.
“I’m gonna stay away from that store. It’s starting to look like a party,” she said.
Bishop Rafael Lantigua Jr., pastor for Real Life Church three storefronts down from the market, said that Saturday’s attack was surprising so close to his house of worship.
“I’ve never seen police tape up, not on this block,” he said.
In the Bronx, police said they responded to a report of an assault at 12:45 p.m. at the John Adams Houses at 745 East 152 St. in the Woodstock section.
They found a 37-year-old man who was unresponsive with trauma to his head and body. EMS pronounced the victim dead at the scene. His identity was not released pending family notification.
Additional reporting by Dean Balsamini
