Devastating: Police have told the family of a 21-year-old East Harlem man that he was fatally stabbed in the neck Saturday evening at the Lower East Side Baruch Houses because of mistaken identity. Glen Wright, who by all accounts was a beloved young man enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College, was there helping his grandmother clean her windows. He was getting a breath of fresh air when a gang looking for revenge for an earlier attack approached from behind, and one man plunged a knife into the back of his neck. His grandmother, Lummie Wright, tells the Daily News, "He was running for his life. He made it all the way to the front door and they chased him [and] they stabbed him once more."
Wright's father Peter witnessed his son's murder, and tackled one of the suspects after a chase. He tells the News, "I saw guys running and I ran after them. Then I saw my son. He was at the right place at the wrong time. He lost so much blood." Suspect Joel Herrera, 20, was arraigned on murder charges, and told detectives he confused Wright with someone who assaulted one of his friends. Wright died at Bellevue Sunday afternoon; a vigil will be held tonight at 5 p.m. the East Harlem Tutorial Program, where Wright worked and volunteered.
According to his family, Wright spent most of his time caring for his 14-year-old brother, who has Down syndrome; his mother died several years ago. In High School, Wright had distinguished himself by participating in an after-school robotics team that went to the national finals. His teacher tells the Times, "In this profession, you’re not supposed to have favorites, but he was probably my favorite." Jeff Ginsburg, executive director of the East Harlem Tutorial Program, adds, "He was just one of these guys who was so caring. I know it’s cliché to say it, but everyone loved him."
