Jaia Cruz, a woman with a history of violent behavior involving knives, is now facing murder charges for the fatal stabbing of a postal worker in a Harlem deli. Law enforcement sources have revealed that Cruz has been arrested at least five times prior to this incident.
In July 2020, Cruz was apprehended for brandishing an open box cutter at another individual in Midtown West. She reportedly threatened to harm the person, refusing to comply with police orders to get on the ground. She was subsequently arrested for resisting arrest.
Just a fortnight later, Cruz was once again in police custody. This time, she was involved in a pre-dawn robbery. Cruz and an accomplice reportedly used knives to rob a man of his phone and wallet after he had invited them to spend time with him.
Cruz, who has been identified by police as a transgender woman, is now facing charges for the murder of Ray Hodges, a USPS letter carrier. Hodges was on duty and had stopped at a deli on 168 Lenox Ave for lunch when the incident occurred.
According to sources, Hodges, 36, had cut the line directly in front of Cruz, which allegedly provoked her. Cruz is accused of stabbing Hodges in the stomach. He was immediately rushed to Harlem Hospital, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.
This tragic incident has once again brought Cruz’s history of violent behavior into the spotlight. It remains to be seen how this case will unfold in court, and what consequences Cruz will face for her actions.