Police say they questioned at least three people on Tuesday following the early-morning death of a security guard stabbed outside of a Washington Heights restaurant, but no arrests had been made by late Tuesday night.
Around 3:30 a.m., the guard escorted several patrons outside and attempted to break up an argument, according to the restaurant’s owner. He was then stabbed several times in the torso and pronounced dead at New York Presbyterian Hospital, according to police.
Northattan is not naming the victim at this time because police say his family members haven’t been notified.
The guard was employed by Expert Security, which provides bouncers for La Casa Del Mofongo, an all-night restaurant and bar on Saint Nicholas Avenue near 183rd Street. “He was just trying to do his job,” said the restaurant manager, Franklin Cruz. Calls to the security firm weren’t returned Tuesday.
Vohn Hunter, another security guard, often worked the night shift with the victim. He said his fellow bouncer was an immigrant from Africa who lived in New Jersey and had a newborn son.
“He was a big, strong dude,” said Hunter, who is 30. “Never drank, smoked cigarettes, didn’t do no drugs. A real good guy. I’m freaked out because that could have been me. I’m much more confrontational than him.”
Hunter said he had never encountered serious violence during his late-night shifts at La Casa Del Mofongo, but added, “There is always something to break up. It gets rowdy at night sometimes.”
Fernando Mateo, the president of Hispanics Across America, an advocacy group, called the incident a terrible tragedy. “We hope that the community will continue to frequent this establishment,” he said, “as it provides a lot of jobs in the community. This is something no one should go through.”
A waitress at the La Villita One Mexican Restaurant next door learned about the stabbing as she was about to leave work Tuesday morning. “I’m very afraid,” the waitress said, asking that her name not be used. “This shows something can happen anytime.”
Edward Chun contributed to this report.
{ 1 comment }
hi my name is alain a big brother of epouta we founde the death of our brother a very big tragedi but we need to know more about the stabing, we also need the phone number of the owner of the restaurant la casa del monfogo or the compény expert sécurity. plese give that information as soun as possible.
[Editor's note: commenter's phone number redacted.]
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