A New York City woman has been arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a USPS worker during an argument over a deli line in Harlem on January 2, 2025.
Jaia Cruz, 24, is accused of stabbing 36-year-old Ray Hodges, a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, multiple times in the chest, neck, and arms at a deli located on Lenox Avenue between 118th and 119th Streets.
Police responded to a 911 call at around 2:38 p.m., where they found Hodges bleeding on the floor in his postal uniform. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
According to witnesses, the altercation began when Cruz, a female customer, stepped in front of Hodges in line and the two began arguing.
The situation escalated when Cruz allegedly spat in Hodges’ face, and he threw a plastic bottle at her. She then reportedly pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed him.
A deli worker and a bystander attempted to intervene, but Cruz fled the scene and went to her apartment before being arrested later that day.
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Hodges, who lived in the Bronx, was remembered by his family and friends as an “honorable man” and a “great father” who worked hard to provide for his family.
One friend described him as who was always willing to help others in the community.
The USPS issued a statement expressing their condolences and reaffirmed their commitment to the safety of postal workers.
Cruz was charged with first-degree murder, and it remains unclear whether she has secured legal representation. The investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of a dedicated worker and father.