A 17-year-old boy was tragically stabbed Friday after getting into a fight with a man at an East Harlem restaurant.
We have apprehended the suspect, Saul Sanchez, 62, and charged him with murder.
Carlos Rivas from the Bronx is the victim.
Video shows deadly fight outside East Harlem restaurant
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Surveillance video shows Rivas and a 22-year-old guy walking into K-Street Food on Second Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. As they enter the restaurant, they run into Sanchez at the entryway.
“Two young guys came in here. He already upset, very upset,” said Moon Shin, owner of K-Street Food.
Shin stated that Sanchez was putting in a meal order while the two young males stood behind, making comments.
“He got very upset, and he say ‘pissing me off’ … But two young guys pushing everywhere, here, there,” she said.
What began inside the restaurant spilled out onto the pavement.
Surveillance footage captures Sanchez stabbing Rivas in the torso.
“I never see people die, dying, in front of my face,” Shin said.
Authorities claim that the teen’s 22-year-old friend, who suffered a stab wound to his left arm, intervened by hurling a chair at Sanchez.
According to police, they transferred Rivas to Harlem Hospital, where he passed away.
Sanchez, who police say was cut in the forehead, left the site after the altercation, then returned, spoke with authorities, and was arrested. Authorities later charged Sanchez with murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police said it’s still unclear what prompted the brawl.
“You can’t be arguing with people out here because you never know”
Shin claimed that the horrific attack traumatized her.
“I’m nervous and I’m scared,” she said. “When he hurt … I was just thinking [about] his mother because I’m a mother, too.”
“You can’t be arguing with people out here because you never know,” said a man named Ray, who is co-owner of the smoke shop next door to K-Street Food.
The fatal stabbing occurred just days after a postal worker was stabbed to death after arguing with a woman while ordering lunch at a Harlem cafe. In that incident, authorities apprehended a suspect and charged him with murder.
