Transgender woman allegedly stabs New York postal worker to death over sandwich

A transgender woman with a history of violence is accused of fatally stabbing a postal worker in New York City on Thursday after being cut in line for lunch.

Police say Jaia Cruz had been arrested at least five times before she allegedly gutted Ray Hodges, 36, with a knife after he cut her in line at a Harlem deli, the New York Post reported.

Cruz, 24, threatened to slash someone with a box cutter in July 2020 and then resisted when officers came to arrest her, the Post reported. Two weeks later, Cruz and an accomplice were arrested for allegedly using knives to steal a man’s phone and wallet.

Deli workers told ABC News 7 the dispute arose over a sandwich and who had ordered first. One worker said he tried to intervene but was unable to stop the violence.

Cruz has been charged with second-degree murder, media reported.

This was New York City’s fourth homicide in the first two days of the year, ABC reported.