The fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Josue Argudo in Queens has shaken the Woodhaven neighborhood and renewed urgent concerns about youth violence occurring in broad daylight. What began as a verbal dispute between teenagers escalated within minutes into a deadly assault that unfolded on a public sidewalk, just blocks from the victim’s home.
Surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and police findings together paint a grim picture of how quickly the confrontation turned fatal and how little warning there was before Argudo lost his life. The case has since moved from an active manhunt to arrests, but the tragedy continues to reverberate through the community, leaving behind unanswered questions, grief, and calls for accountability.
The Confrontation and Deadly Attack in Broad Daylight
According to authorities, the incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, January 9, near the corner of Jamaica Avenue and 76th Street in Woodhaven, Queens. Josue Argudo, a 17-year-old local resident, became involved in an argument with two other teenagers. While the precise cause of the dispute has not been publicly confirmed, investigators believe it stemmed from a verbal altercation that may have originated at a nearby pizzeria.
As tensions escalated, Argudo attempted to flee the confrontation. Surveillance video and police accounts indicate that he ran down the street, apparently trying to escape the two teens pursuing him. Despite his efforts, the assailants caught up with him. One suspect punched Argudo, while the other produced a knife and slashed him across the neck. The wound proved catastrophic.
Video footage reviewed by investigators and later circulated publicly shows the victim and one of the suspects walking briefly side by side after the chase. Moments later, the suspect appears to jab Argudo in the neck. Witnesses initially believed the attacker was punching the victim, only realizing later that a knife had been used, possibly concealed in the attacker’s hand. Argudo sat down on the sidewalk shortly afterward and then slumped over, critically injured.
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Emergency medical services rushed Argudo to Jamaica Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Police later confirmed that the fatal wound was a slashing injury to the neck. The killing occurred just three blocks from Argudo’s home, adding to the devastation felt by those who knew him.
Witness Accounts, Surveillance Footage, and Community Shock
The violence unfolded in full view of a residential neighborhood during the afternoon, a time when many residents were home and businesses were open. Patricia Ammirati, a nearby neighbor, recounted hearing teenagers arguing outside while she was in her kitchen. With her back door open, she looked out to see a young man in a light gray sweatshirt sitting down on the sidewalk.
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She described how quickly the situation deteriorated. According to her account, the teen sat down and then slumped over almost immediately. At first, she thought she was witnessing a fight, not realizing the severity of what had just occurred. By the time the reality of the stabbing became clear, the attackers were already walking away from the scene.
Ammirati said her neighbors attempted to provide CPR to Argudo while waiting for emergency responders, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Surveillance cameras in the area captured parts of the incident, including footage that appeared to show the victim walking alongside one of the suspects before the fatal blow was delivered. Additional images released by police depicted two suspects, one wearing all black clothing with white Beats headphones and another dressed in a black jacket, blue jeans, and white sneakers while carrying a black cross-body bag.
What disturbed witnesses most was the apparent indifference shown after the attack. According to Ammirati, the teens responsible simply walked away “like nothing happened,” showing no visible urgency or remorse. The casual manner in which they left the scene intensified residents’ sense of shock and disbelief.
Many in the community expressed regret and frustration, wondering whether the outcome could have been prevented. Ammirati said she wished she had been outside moments earlier, believing she might have been able to intervene and stop the violence. Her words echoed a broader sentiment felt by neighbors who struggled with the feeling that a young life was lost in mere seconds over an argument that never should have escalated.
Arrests, Charges, and the Ongoing Investigation
Initially, police reported that no arrests had been made, and the NYPD launched an active investigation into the homicide. Detectives released surveillance photos and video clips of the two suspects, asking the public for help in identifying them. The release of the footage intensified public attention, with the disturbing images circulating widely online and across news outlets.
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The case took a significant turn when authorities announced that two suspects had been brought into custody. A 17-year-old male suspect, whose name has not been released due to his age, was arrested and charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Sources close to the investigation indicated that this suspect is believed to be the primary aggressor in the attack.
Shortly afterward, an 18-year-old identified as Derek Trejo turned himself in at the 108th Precinct stationhouse in Long Island City. Trejo was also charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Police stated that both individuals are connected to the fatal slashing and that the arrests followed shortly after the release of the surveillance images. Officers from the 102nd Precinct responded to the initial incident and continued to work the case alongside homicide detectives.
Investigators have emphasized that the case remains under review as they examine the events leading up to the stabbing, the roles of each suspect, and whether additional charges may be warranted. The killing prompted reactions from elected officials and community leaders. U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez publicly expressed her grief, describing the death of Josue Argudo as a senseless act of violence. She offered condolences to the family and called for an end to the cycle of violence affecting young people in the community.
As the legal process moves forward, the focus now turns to accountability and the broader implications of the case. The death of Josue Argudo has become another stark example of how quickly disputes among youths can escalate into lethal encounters, even in familiar neighborhoods during daylight hours. For residents of Woodhaven, the tragedy has left a lasting impact, serving as a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need to address the factors contributing to youth violence.
While arrests have been made and charges filed, the loss felt by Argudo’s family, friends, and neighbors remains profound. The case continues to resonate as both a criminal investigation and a community tragedy, one that underscores the devastating consequences of violence among teenagers and the lasting scars such incidents leave behind.