Police have arrested a 44-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 28-year-old man in University Heights.

 

Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at around 5.04 a.m. Police responded to a call regarding an assault which took place at the corner of 183rd Street and University Avenue.

 

“Upon arrival, officers observed a 28-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive with a stab wound to the torso,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded to the scene and transported the male to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.

 

The deceased has since been identified as Fitzroy Bennett, 28, of University Avenue in Morris Heights.

 

On Thursday, Dec. 8, pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the NYPD said that Joel Diaz, 44, of Southern Boulevard in the West Farms section of The Bronx was arrested in connection with the incident. Diaz has been charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Anyone with information in regard to this incident 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 at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential