Man in wheelchair stabs other man in wheelchair to death after dispute at East Village facility

BY Matthew Lysiak AND Wil Cruz
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Originally Published:Saturday, December 19th 2009, 11:23 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 19th 2009, 2:55 PM

An argument between two men in wheelchairs ended in deadly violence early Saturday when one stabbed the other after being gashed on the head, police and witnesses said.

A resident of Barrier-Free Living, an assisted-living facility in the East Village, said the killer managed to corner the victim because he was using a motorized wheelchair.

The battle started in the early morning hours when a 24-year-old resident smashed a 51-year-old with the footrest of his wheelchair, said resident Norbert Toledo.

"There was an argument over nothing," said Toledo, who is the victim's roommate.

The older man was enraged and some time later zoomed over to his victim - who was using a manually operated wheelchair - and repeatedly stabbed him with a homemade knife.

"[He] sped up to him and began stabbing him over and over again," Toledo, who said he watched the murder with guards on a security monitor.

"We couldn't believe what we were seeing."

The victim was taken to Beth Israel Hospital, where he died. Cops recovered the knife at the scene and arrested the 51-year-old man. Charges were pending.

Rafael Espinoza, 64, a friend of the victim, said the facility is dangerous.

"[He] was a great guy," Espinoza said. "I'm in shock that he is gone but I'm not surprised. This is a violent place."

Facility officials did not return a call for comment.

From: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/12/19/2009-12-19_man_in_wheelchair_stabs_other_man_in_wheelchair_to_death_after_dispute_at_east_v.html