Quantcast

Teen charged with murder after Murray Hill stabbing

By Alexander Dworkowitz

A 16-year-old Flushing resident was arrested and charged with murder in the early Sunday morning stabbing of a Babylon man at a 153rd Street residence in the Murray Hill section of Flushing, police said.

According to police from the 109th Precinct, two males arrived at the first floor apartment at 35-15 153rd St. about 4 a.m. Sunday and got into a fight with the occupants.

Dae Hyun Kim, 22, of Babylon, L.I., was stabbed and rushed to New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Joon Byun, a 19-year-old woman, was taken to Flushing Hospital after being slashed and was in stable condition, they said.

Hyun Suk Yu (a.k.a John) was hit in the head during the struggle and taken to Flushing Hospital to be treated for head trauma, police said. He was later released.

Police Tuesday arrested David Lee, 16, of 138-35 Elder Ave. He was charged with murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon, said Meris Campbell of the Queens district attorney’s office.

According to Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner, Kim died of a stab wound to the torso with a perforation to the lung.

Police said Kim, Yu and Lee all knew each other, but did not explain their relationship to each other.

Authorities were continuing to investigate the stabbing. It was not known if anyone else would be charged.

Officers questioned neighbors about the incident. Vincent Eaccarino, who lives across the street from where the stabbing occurred, said a young Asian woman lives in the apartment. He said police told him the woman was at home with one of the men early Sunday when the two others arrived and the fight ensued.

One allegedly was the woman’s boyfriend, Eaccarino said.

Police did not identify who was with the young woman or which of the three may have been her boyfriend.

Eaccarino said he was saddened by the crime.

“It’s crazy to fight over a woman,” said Eaccarino, who has lived in his home on 153rd Street for 30 years. He said there have never been any major problems on the block.

Carlos Torres, a recent arrival from Puerto Rico who lives around the corner on 35th Avenue, said he had never heard of any crime in the neighborhood. “This is a quiet block,” he said.

Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.