A 35-year-old man was knifed to death on a Brooklyn street four blocks from where a man was fatally stabbed just three hours earlier, cops said Thursday.
Ralph Hand was stabbed in the right arm and suffered a deep cut to the right side of his head during a clash on Marconi Place near Atlantic Ave. in Ocean Hill about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, cops said.
Medics rushed Hand to Kings County Hospital but he could not be saved. He was two blocks from home when he was stabbed, cops said.
Witnesses told cops Hand was arguing with a rival when the dispute turned physical. He was stabbed during the fight, cops said.
Hand refused to cooperate with police as he was rushed to the hospital, a police source said. The stabber ran off and has not been caught.
A GoFundMe created to cover Hand’s funeral expenses said the circumstances around his death are “incomprehensible and leave a void that feels impossible to fill.”
“The shock and sorrow ripple through our family and community, reminding us of how fragile life can be,” the GoFundMe says. “It’s hard to reconcile the joy Ralph brought to our lives with the pain of his absence.”
Police said Hand had a criminal record and had been repeatedly arrested on narcotics-related charges. He was charged with assault in 2006.
The GoFundMe describes Hand had “a vibrant soul whose laughter could fill any room.”
“Ralph’s life was a tapestry of experiences, woven with moments of joy, love, and adventure,” Pope wrote. “Whether he was sharing stories over dinner or lending a helping hand to those in need, he had a unique ability to make everyone feel valued and understood. His presence brought comfort and happiness, and the memories we shared will always be cherished.”
The 73rd Precinct, which covers Ocean Hill and Brownsville, has seen a nearly three-fold jump in homicides so far this year compared to the same period last year.
As of Oct. 27, before Wednesday’s back-to-back homicides, the precinct had seen 16 killings this year compared to sic during the same timeframe last year.
Just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, 34-year-old Kelvin Reynoso was stabbed multiple times all over his body four blocks away on Atlantic Ave. near Monaco Place. He died at Brookdale University Hospital.
The accused killer, Devon Elliott, 29, ran into his apartment across the street in the same building where his victim lived and refused to come out when cops came knocking. After about two hours he finally surrendered and was taken to the hospital for an evaluation. Investigators later charged him with murder and weapon possession.
Elliott’s arraignment for murder and weapon possession was pending in Brooklyn Criminal Court Thursday.
