What to Know
- A 22-year-old homeless man died after he and another homeless man stabbed each other during a fight at a shelter, police say
- The fight happened at Basics Housing, a men’s homeless shelter on West 83rd Street, around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, according to police
- The 36-year-old man who allegedly stabbed the 22-year-old was treated for a stab wound to his torso. He has been taken into custody
A 22-year-old homeless man died after he and another homeless man stabbed each other during a fight at an Upper West Side shelter, the NYPD said.
The fight happened at Basics Housing, a men’s homeless shelter on West 83rd Street, near Columbus Avenue, around 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, according to police.
Police found the 22-year-old man, Geronal Washington, unconscious on the third floor of the shelter, with stab wounds to his torso.
The 36-year-old man who allegedly stabbed him was found conscious on the first floor of the shelter with a stab wound to his torso, the NYPD said.
Both men were taken to the hospital, where the 22-year-old man was pronounced dead, police said. The 36-year-old man was listed in stable condition.
The 36-year-old is in police custody, but hasn’t been charged yet, the NYPD said.
Local
Police didn’t immediately release the 22-year-old man’s name. An investigation is ongoing.
A spokesman for the city's Department of Homeless Services on Sunday said the department couldn't provide specific details about the incident due to client confidentiality, but noted that the department is actively investigating.
Staff members at the shelter responded to the incident as soon as it happened and called police to the building, according to the spokesman.
The shelter currently has 10 security staff members who cover the site 24/7, the spokesman said. Twelve full-time social services staff members and one part-time social services staff member also work at the facility.
"We mourn the individual life lost last night and offer our heartfelt condolences to this individual's family, friends, and clients and staff on-site," the spokesman said in a statement. "We will provide them with any and all support that we can during this difficult time."
