Woodhaven clash turns lethal as 17-year-old collapses after stabbing
WOODHAVEN, NY — A 17-year-old student walking home from school along Jamaica Avenue was stabbed to death in broad daylight after an argument turned physical, and two defendants have now been charged with murder, Queens prosecutors said.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday that Derek Trejo, 18, and a 17-year-old co-defendant have been charged with second-degree murder and weapon possession in the death of 17-year-old Josue Argudo. Prosecutors allege the two defendants argued with Argudo on Friday afternoon, then acted together as the confrontation escalated into punching and a stabbing.
According to the charges, the incident occurred on Friday between about 3:25 p.m. and 3:43 p.m. as Argudo walked home from school on Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven. Katz’s office said Argudo got into a verbal dispute with Trejo and the 17-year-old defendant, which soon became physical.
The 17-year-old defendant is accused of producing a knife and stabbing Argudo in the torso, prosecutors said. Argudo then ran down 76th Street before collapsing, according to the complaint.
Trejo is accused of following Argudo, punching him and striking him with the victim’s headphones, prosecutors said.
Argudo was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after the stabbing, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Trejo, who prosecutors described as undomiciled, and the 17-year-old co-defendant from Edgemere were arraigned late Sunday night in Queens Criminal Court. Judge Lana Schlesinger remanded both defendants, the DA’s office said. The judge ordered the 17-year-old to return to court Monday and ordered Trejo to return to court Thursday, January 15.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Shane Witteman of the 102nd Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Thomas Scalise of the Queens South Homicide Squad, prosecutors said. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Graham Amodeo of the Homicide Bureau with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauszpigel, under the supervision of bureau leadership and the Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes, the office said.
An accusation is not proof of guilt, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- Derek Trejo, 18, and a 17-year-old co-defendant charged with second-degree murder in death of Josue Argudo, 17
- Prosecutors say argument on Jamaica Avenue escalated to punching and a stabbing on Friday afternoon
- Both defendants were remanded following late Sunday night arraignments in Queens Criminal Court
