Photo Courtesy of DA Katz
“This kind of violence and lawlessness is creating havoc and heartache in our communities, and it must end,” DA Katz said.
By Forum Staff
Two men have been charged in the stabbing death of a man in Hollis last month, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
Raymond Kenner, 22, of Manhattan, and Alexander Stephens, 31, of St. Albans were arraigned Thursday on a complaint charging them with two counts of murder in the second degree, robbery in the first and second degree, tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of stolen property the fifth degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Kenner was also charged in a second complaint with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
According to the first complaint, just after 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21, the defendants were allegedly observed on video surveillance following Andrew Cunje as he walked along Jamaica Avenue from 201st
Street to Carpenter Avenue. Kenner and Stephens then confronted the 25-year-old victim, and moments later Cunje was on the ground bleeding.
Photo Courtesy of Google
Kenner was seen with victim Benjamin Vasquez on surveillance video around 11 p.m. on 89th Avenue near Rufus King Park in Jamaica.
Katz said the victim was rushed to an area hospital where he was treated for multiple stab wounds to his back and chest and later died from his injuries.
Two days later, according to the second complaint, Kenner was seen on surveillance video around 11 p.m. on 89th Avenue near Rufus King Park. Kenner was seen with Benjamin Vasquez, who was stabbed multiple times. The 29-year-old victim died from the injuries.
According to the charges, when Kenner was apprehended, he was wearing the same clothes he was seen in on video footage as he followed the victim on Dec. 21, and there was blood allegedly splattered on his clothing. Stephens was wearing the same boots from the surveillance video of Dec. 21 and the boots also allegedly had blood stains on them.
Additionally, the DA said, police recovered a folding knife allegedly from Kenner’s pocket.
“As we close out 2021, sadly we have another two killings in our neighborhoods and one man is charged in both slayings just two days apart. A second co-defendant allegedly took part in one of the stabbings,” Katz said. “This kind of violence and lawlessness is creating havoc and heartache in our communities, and it must end. The two defendants are now in custody and charged with very serious crimes.”
If convicted, Kenner and Stephens face up to 25 years to life in prison; Kenner faces another 25 years to life on the second complaint.
