Transgender Suspect With Violent Criminal History Charged in Fatal Harlem Deli Stabbing Of USPS Worker

(TJV) A tragic and violent incident in Harlem has left a USPS postal worker dead, and a transgender suspect facing murder charges. The stabbing, which occurred Thursday afternoon in a New York City deli, has sent shockwaves through the community, especially as new details emerge about the suspect’s lengthy criminal history involving bladed weapons.

Most of the media in NYC is leaving out the fact that the suspect is Transgender female; essentially a man who now identifies as a woman. In the video above, at the 5-minute and 15-second mark  the suspect is seen being taken into a police car and  we can clearly see the suspect is TG

Ray Hodges, 36, a well-loved letter carrier and father of two, was taking his lunch break at a familiar neighborhood deli when an altercation began. Witnesses reported that another customer, later identified as 24-year-old Jaia Cruz, cut in front of Hodges in line, sparking a heated argument.

Attempts to diffuse the dispute failed as tensions escalated. According to witnesses, Cruz spat on Hodges, who retaliated by throwing a bottle of lemon juice. “That’s when she took the knife and came to him,” a deli worker said.

Cruz reportedly stabbed Hodges multiple times in the neck and stomach before being subdued. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Hodges succumbed to his injuries.

Law enforcement sources revealed that Cruz, described as a transgender woman, has a history of violent offenses involving knives. Over the past several years, she has been arrested at least five times.

• 2020 Incidents: Cruz allegedly threatened a man with a box cutter, shouting, “I’m going to cut him.” Weeks later, she was arrested for luring a man to “hang out,” only to rob him at knife-point with an accomplice.

These prior incidents, combined with her role in the fatal attack, have raised questions about how past offenses were handled.

Remembering the Victim

Ray Hodges was well-regarded in the Harlem community, both as a postal worker and as a person. Local residents described him as “a really nice guy” who went out of his way to look out for people on his delivery route.

“The Postal Inspection Service can confirm that on January 2, 2025, a United States Postal Service letter carrier, assigned to Manhattan, was the victim of a homicide,” a USPS spokesperson said. “We are deeply saddened by this loss.”

Ongoing Investigation

Cruz was apprehended at the scene and charged with murder. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether mental health or other factors may have played a role.

The tragic killing has left many in Harlem grieving and questioning how such a senseless act of violence could occur in broad daylight.