With some Bedford Park residents in quarantine amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a few only learned of the horrific, senseless killing of Kevin Smith, 62, in the days that followed his death. Smith was stabbed twice in the chest, apparently after a brief exchange of words with his assailant on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The NYPD reported that Smith was attacked at 6:59 p.m. outside of 380 East Bedford Park Boulevard on the evening in question. They said he died a short time later at St. Barnabas Hospital. One friend said he was sure that Smith died on the sidewalk, saying, “his spirit left his body right there.”

On Sunday, Oct. 25, police spokeswoman, Sgt. Mary Francis O’Donnell, confirmed the arrest of Jason Young, 35, from The Bronx, in relation to the incident. Young was charged with murder, manslaughter and a weapons possession charge, all relating to Smith’s death.

Earlier on Sunday, a business owner and friend of Smith’s explained how Young had actually walked through the crime scene area the morning after the incident, saying, “They did arrest him and the reason behind it was the next day [Friday, Oct. 23] he [the suspect] walked by, like it was nothing.” He added, “We called the police.”

The business owner who spoke with the Norwood News appeared miffed at how a pair of major media outlets had gotten a gruesome detail wrong in relation to the incident. They allegedly reported that Smith had been stabbed in the back. He explained, “He stabbed him right in the heart. You’ll see on the video.” He later provided the Norwood News with  copy of the video recording.

That video was one of several from businesses in the area whose cameras all captured the deadly encounter. The video begins with what appears to be Young and Smith, among other people, standing outside the Bedford Pizzeria. The assailant appears to initially rush toward the curb [facing the road] only to then double-back into Smith’s path and stab him in the right side of his chest.

Seconds later, the killer appears to deliver a second stab wound to the upper torso, and Smith immediately collapses onto the sidewalk. The killer then walks a few steps away along the sidewalk, picks up a black trash bag which was already left there and proceeds to walk calmly westbound.

Ocasio credited Smith with helping him turn his life around five years ago, offering him a bed, a meal and encouragement. He said, “He gave me a helping hand. I’m hurting because we spoke Thursday morning.” He said the pair had planned to meet Sunday but it was finally not to be. Ocasio said, “After that, I didn’t hear from him anymore.”

On Friday, Oct. 23, a woman who lived in the same Decatur Avenue building as Smith and who had just gotten the news of his death was visibly upset as she visited the makeshift memorial set up for him at the site of the attack. “Oh my God! You know what?” she said. “You have to be appreciative of the people that are around you and your family members, and the friends that are around you, and be appreciative of the time you have with them.”

The woman then said of Smith, “I saw him Tuesday. He was outside Tuesday, and he was very happy.”

According to NYPD crime statistics, Smith’s killing represents the seventh homicide in the 52nd precinct command this year. There were eight homicides in total for the entire year in 2019. Smith is also the fourth victim to be  murdered during the month of October in the precinct.

The first of four October killings was reported on Friday, Oct. 9, when Kossuth Avenue resident, Marvin Duchenne, 29, was stabbed in the chest by an unknown assailant  at 8 p.m. at East Gun Hill Road and Jerome Avenue. Duchenne’s killer remains at large.

Two days later, on Sunday, Oct. 11, Rider Ferraras, 35, was stabbed to death at his home at 2837 Valentine Avenue. Police classified the incident as a “domestic dispute” and arrested his apparent, live-in girlfriend, Marianela Valdez De Gonzalez, 39, who was charged with the crime.

On Monday, October 11, Wendolin Ortiz, 19, was shot and killed as she partied at Mixtec, an illegal nightclub operating at 2345 Jerome Avenue. Two men were wounded by gunshots during the same incident but survived. The gunman was apprehended and has been charged in connection with the crime.

The 52nd precinct covers the Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge and University Heights neighborhoods. A neighborhood march against gun violence was recently held in Bedford Park on Friday, Sept. 25, in an effort to raise awareness and curb gun violence in the community. Violence interrupters, B.R.A.G. (Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence), were a key part of the march.

The group works with youth and other community members to create a bridge with law enforcement in communities that need protection from violent offenders. B.R.A.G. originated in the 46th precinct and has since grown into three divisions: B.R.A.G. West, B.R.A.G. North, and B.R.A.G. Northwest, which includes the 52nd precinct.

In addition, a recent no-questions-asked gun buyback event took place on Saturday, Oct. 24, organized by the NYPD and the Bronx District Attorney’s office and resulted in the recovery of 136 firearms in exchange for ipads and cash cards.