New York, NY – A 15-year-old boy from Guatemala has been charged with fatally stabbing one man and injuring another during an argument in a homeless encampment at Sara D. Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side. Police officials reported that the teenager, who arrived in the United States within the past year as a “new arrival,” was arrested on Saturday. He is now facing murder and attempted murder charges. The suspect, who is homeless himself, remains unnamed due to being a minor.
According to witnesses, the incident occurred last week at around 11 p.m. when an argument broke out between the teenager and the victims, identified as Alonzo Pasquale, 25, and Alonzo Lucas, 29. The dispute quickly turned physical, with eyewitnesses stating that they saw the suspect wielding a knife and attacking Pasquale and Lucas. One witness reported that after Pasquale was stabbed, Lucas attempted to intervene but was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head by the 15-year-old assailant. Both victims suffered stab wounds to the chest, and Pasquale succumbed to his injuries before medical assistance arrived. Lucas was taken to Bellevue Hospital and is now in stable condition.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny informed reporters that the suspect was identified through surveillance footage and witness descriptions of his clothing. Detectives located the 15-year-old nearby, wearing the same attire as seen in the video, and subsequently made the arrest. Kenny stated that two individuals who witnessed the stabbing identified the Guatemalan migrant as the perpetrator.
While the motive behind the argument remains undisclosed, Kenny acknowledged that the area of Sara D. Roosevelt Park has recently experienced a surge in criminal activity. Prosecutors will determine if the teen will be charged as an adult once the investigation is complete.
The incident involving the Guatemalan juvenile suspect adds to the ongoing concerns surrounding the migrant crisis in New York City as the city continues to grapple with issues of housing instability and limited resources.