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[Update] Man Taken Into Custody For Fatal Deli Stabbing
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 24, 2015
Modified Jan 24, 2015
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 24, 2015
Modified Jan 24, 2015
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[Update Below] A man who may wear a Winnie The Pooh costume in Times Square has been arrested for the fatal stabbing of a man at a Midtown deli last week. The suspect, whom the Post identified as Winnie impersonator 'Arturo,' was arrested around 2 p.m. Friday at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, and is expected to face murder charges.
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Victim Luis Martinez, 36, was allegedly stabbed by the suspect at the New Star Cafe, on 7th Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets. Martinez stumbled out of the diner and made it past a few storefronts on West 40th Street before collapsing in front of a Hale & Hearty Soup. He died of his wounds at Bellevue Hospital.
A NYPD source told the Times that the two had gotten into an argument prior to the stabbing, and seemed to know each other: "As soon as he goes in he starts arguing with this individual that stabs him twice," Robert Boyce, the chief of detectives, said.
The Times spoke to another costumed character who gave some more information about the possible motive: "A man in Times Square dressed as Batman said on Friday that an Elmo had told him that the argument was over whose turn it was to buy beer."
Update: The Post now say the suspect is homeless, and it is unclear whether or not he was one of the Times Square Winnie The Poohs. Police had no new information about the case or the person taking into custody.
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costume characters
fatal stabbing
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winnie the pooh
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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