Argument Over $20 May Have Preceded Harlem Stabbings

There may be a motive for at least one of the three stabbings in East Harlem that occurred yesterday: Apparently the suspect and one of the victims may have been arguing about $20.

There are varying accounts of whether the suspect and victims knew each other. The Wall Street Journal reports, "Early indications suggest that the victims and suspect did not know each other," but according to WABC 7, "Authorities say the fight began over $20 when the first victim was stabbed near the 125th Street station [near Lexington Avenue] just after 5 a.m. Wednesday. As the suspect fled, the second victim happened to be in his way and was attacked as well." That victim ran into the subway station and was found bleeding on the platform; a third victim was found a few blocks away.

The Post also has the $20 angle and says all three victims knew the stabber, "It started when four men got into an argument over the money...One pulled a knife and stabbed two others. A third man tried to flee, but the assailant caught up with him a few blocks away and stabbed him, too, cops said."

One woman told WABC 7, "That makes me nervous somebody walking around stabbing somebody. It could be you. I hope they catch the fool," but a construction worker near 125th and Lexington said to the WSJ, "There's always something up here. But it's a little better than it was when we first started this building. It was really bad up here."