A Bronx man is charged with stabbing two other men at an apartment complex in the borough’s Melrose neighborhood. The suspect, Tyquan McBride, 33, lives at “Melrose North” on 341 East 162nd Street where the attack happened late Saturday night, according to police.
The New York Police Department says officers responding to a 911 call found a 48-year-old man with a stab wound to the neck and a 39-year-old man with lacerations on his arm. The 48-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The 39-year-old victim is recovering at a hospital.
A neighbor tells News 4 she knew the man who died and that he also lived in the building, as does the other victim. She saw blood on the sixth floor stairwell near where she says the victim who died was found. “I was told that he was running from somebody, and this is someone he already had a prior problem with.” The man who died banged on several doors for help, she said. “He reported, you know, things to this building that we live in multiple times.” She added “It’s not the security’s fault because the security — they’re not trained for this… he did what he could do, he called the police.”
Another neighbor, “Eva,” also knew the deceased victim. “Very kind guy, just his personality,” she said. “He was just one, warm and you know really cared about everybody.”
The New York City Housing Authority celebrated the opening of Melrose North last year, along with partners “Services for the UnderServed,” or “S:US,” and the Bronx Pro Group.
The building is part of New York City’s Supportive Housing program. As part of that program, the building includes housing set aside for those who formerly experienced homelessness with mental health and substance use disorders. Melrose North provides 171 affordable homes, including 103 supportive housing units. But a resident believes more needs to be done to separate those in the building who are dealing with mental health issues.
Police booked McBride on charges of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. Investigators have not released the names of the victims or a motive for the stabbings.
A resident says the man who died had told her that McBride, had gone after others living and working in the building months ago. “I told (the dead victim) to stop hanging out with him.” She claimed case workers at Melrose North had felt powerless to do anything.
“These issues have been going on, not only with us, but in other supportive housing agencies,” said “Eva.” “It’s time for the elected officials to start holding these agencies accountable and the people that are designed to protect (them).”
News 4 has reached out to Services for the UnderServed for comment.