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Suspect Charged After Man, 22, Stabbed To Death On Upper East Side

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect was charged late Tuesday in connection with the deadly stabbing of a 22-year-old man early Tuesday on the Upper East Side.

The incident happened around 1:15 a.m. on Third Avenue at the intersection of 94th Street.

Gustavo Rodriguez, 19, was walking his girlfriend home when police said he was confronted by her old boyfriend, Gustavo Rodriguez, 22, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.

At that point, a loud quarrel and a physical fight between the two men broke out, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported. During the altercation, Olivares was stabbed multiple times in the chest, police said. The woman was not hurt.

Investigators said the armed attacker then ran south down Third Avenue.

The woman stayed with Olivares and hailed a cab to Metropolitan Hospital, where the victim later died.

Rodriguez was charged with murder, felony assault, and criminal possession of a weapon late Tuesday.

Gustavo Rodriguez
Gustavo Rodriguez, 19, was charged in the stabbing that killed Xavier Oliveras, 22, on the Upper East Side. (Credit: Dave Carlin/CBS2)

Detectives spent the morning searching under cars and in bushes for the alleged murder weapon.

"It's really, really unsettling," one resident told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond. "I mean, you don't think you're going to come out for a morning run and see police tape and police officers and an investigation."

Nancy Cabrero is the principal of P.S. 198 across the street from the scene and said the investigation was too close for comfort.

"I have fifth graders and fourth graders that are coming to school by themselves and they should be able to feel safe walking to their community school," she said.

The victim and his girlfriend have a 2-year-old child together.

The investigation is ongoing.

Tuesday's incident is the latest knife attack in New York City where there have been over 1,160 this year. According to police statistics, it's an uptick of 24 percent compared to last year.

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