A man in Midtown Manhattan stabbed his downstairs neighbor to death last month in a dispute over water leakage from an apartment, and was charged with manslaughter by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. on August 12.
The incident occurred around 12:53 a.m. on July 9 in a supportive housing building on West 43rd Street near 8th Avenue in Manhattan. Monte McEvilley went upstairs to neighbor Kevin Young’s apartment to complain about water leaking from his bathroom ceiling. Upon opening the door, Young was met with McEvilley’s complaint. As Young attempted to close the door, McEvilley prevented him from doing so. In response, Young pulled out a knife and stabbed McEvilley in the chest, causing a fatal wound to his heart. McEvilley collapsed and was pronounced dead after being taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital at the age of 55. Young was arrested at the scene.
On August 12, Alvin L. Bragg announced that 38-year-old Kevin Young was charged with manslaughter in the first degree for his cruel actions in fatally stabbing the unarmed Monte McEvilley, a Class B felony.
The location of the incident was originally a hotel near Times Square, which was taken over by the non-profit organization Breaking Ground in 1991 and converted into supportive housing for low-income individuals, former homeless people, mental health patients, and AIDS patients. Residents have reported that this location has seen numerous stabbing and death incidents in the past.
The tragic incident underscores the importance of addressing disputes and conflicts peacefully to prevent such senseless tragedies from occurring in the future. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of resorting to violence in disputes, leaving a community mourning the loss of a life and grappling with the aftermath of a violent act.