A father was killed and two other people left injured after a stabbing at a Brooklyn bodega that started when a man took pictures of a woman, according to police.
Police responded to a 911 call at the corner of Roebling Street and South 9th Street in Williamsburg around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. When officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old man stabbed in the neck, a 45-year-old man slashed to the neck and back, and a 27-year-old woman with a cut to her wrist.
Witnesses said some kind of heated argument broke out in the leadup to the stabbing. The violence began outside then spilled into the store before the victim, later identified as Severiano Reyes, stumbled out with a stab wound to his neck. He collapsed to the ground.
Reyes was rushed to the hospital, where he died, police said.
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Those who live in the area said Reyes used to live in the neighborhood, and a family member at the scene said the slain father was married with two children.
"John was loved by everyone, he got a good heart, he was a family man," said Nick Rodriguez, a relative of Reyes'.
The other two victims — Reyes' cousin, Desiree, and another person — were also taken to the hospital and are expected to recover. Witnesses said the whole altercation started after the suspect was taking pictures of Reye's female cousin.
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"John was basically trying to stand-up for his cousin, which was the female that got slashed. They were trying to tell him to stop taking pictures," said Phillip Proszowski, a friend of Reyes'.
Police said the attacker, later identified as 38-year-old Roger Collado, was seen walking away from the bloody scene, wearing a backpack. Video exclusively obtained by NBC New York showed what appeared to be Collado holding the black backpack with his shirt off and blood on his face walking west on Division Street toward Driggs Avenue.
No arrests have yet been made as police search for Collado. An investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information in regard to the whereabouts of this individual is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website.
