Man with history of menacing people fatally stabbed in NYC; suspect claims self defense
The 49-year-old victim has a history of multiple arrests, most for harassing or menacing people in the area.
HELL'S KITCHEN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A 49-year-old man with a history of menacing people in Hells Kitchen was fatally stabbed in a fight early Friday morning, and the suspect is claiming it was in self defense.
Police say the victim, identified as Guarionex Torres, of the Bronx, bumped into a 28-year-old man at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and West 44th Street just after 1 a.m., sparking an argument.
As the dispute escalated, the suspect pulled a knife and stabbed Torres.
The victim sustained a "major laceration to his left chin" and was also stabbed in the groin.
He was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
The alleged stabbed was taken into custody a block away.
He told detectives the victim started the argument following a bump, and that the stabbing was in self defense.
He was charged with murder, and a knife was recovered at the scene.
Torres has a history of multiple arrests, most of them for harassing or menacing people in the area.
He was last arrested on Friday, August 12, around 5:15 p.m. after allegedly swinging a hatchet at people in front of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
He was charged with menacing and weapons possession in that case, and he was released $3,500 bail.
In all, he has 21 prior arrests, mostly for drugs offenses.
He has been in state prison four separate times since 1994, mostly for drug convictions.
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