A suspect in the stabbing murder of a mailman was escorted out of an NYPD precinct yesterday evening, bringing a tense and emotional day to a close. The 37-year-old man, who was arrested earlier in the day, was taken away in handcuffs and a white paper jumpsuit.
The victim, a 63-year-old mail carrier, was found stabbed to death on the sidewalk in the Queens neighborhood of Astoria around 11:30 am on Wednesday. Witnesses reported seeing a struggle between the victim and another man before the attack.
Police received a tip around 9:30 am yesterday morning that led them to the suspect, who was hiding in a friend’s apartment in Brooklyn. Officers surrounded the building and arrested the suspect without incident.
The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was a longtime postal worker with over 30 years of service. Colleagues and family members gathered outside the precinct to pay their respects and await news of the suspect’s arrest.
“I’m still in shock,” said one coworker. “He was a good man, always willing to help. He’ll be deeply missed.”
The motive behind the killing is still unclear, but police are investigating whether it was a robbery gone wrong or a personal vendetta. The suspect is expected to be arraigned today on charges of murder and robbery.