A #Bronx community is reeling after a 32-year-old man was fatally stabbed during a domestic altercation in the Mott Haven neighborhood.
Michael Bookhart, described by loved ones as a “kind and giving soul,” died Sunday night after an argument with his girlfriend escalated into violence.
Authorities arrested 23-year-old Jamaya Nelson at the scene. She was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and aggravated criminal possession of a weapon.
According to police, the incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. inside an apartment on East 138th Street near Brown Place. Responding to a 911 call, officers found Bookhart unconscious and unresponsive with a stab wound to the chest, NY Daily News reports.
Despite being rushed to Lincoln Medical Center, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Police sources indicate the couple had a history of domestic disputes, and neighbors reportedly heard yelling prior to the fatal encounter. Investigators are working to piece together the sequence of events that led to the stabbing.
Bookhart’s mother, Mabel Gonzalez, 50, spoke out days after the tragedy, expressing long-held concerns about Nelson.
“I knew there was something wrong with that girl from the day I met her,” Gonzalez said tearfully. “She had a temper, and I worried about my son, but he always told me not to interfere. Now I’ll never get to see him again.”
Gonzalez described her son as a hardworking man who had recently been talking about building a better future. “Michael had his flaws, like anyone, but he didn’t deserve this. He was a good person who wanted to make things right,” she added.
Bookhart’s family is planning a memorial service to honor his life. “We want people to remember Michael for his kindness and the joy he brought to others, not the way he died,” Gonzalez said.
Anyone with additional information about the incident is urged to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.