A horrifying new video has been released showing the knife-wielding assailant who fatally stabbed postal worker Ray Hodges in a Harlem deli. The video features Jaia Cruz, a troubled transgender woman, up close with a seductive smile as a raunchy song plays in the background. The video was posted by an individual with the username @ImMeme0, but their connection to Cruz is unknown. Cruz is currently facing murder charges for killing Hodges in a cold-blooded attack.
Hodges’ family is understandably devastated by his tragic death but declined to speak to the media about the incident. The 36-year-old USPS worker and father-of-two was attacked by Cruz while they were in line at Joe’s Deli Grocery on Lenox Ave. Witnesses reported that Cruz became enraged, spit in Hodges’ face, and then proceeded to stab him in the stomach. Despite being rushed to Harlem Hospital for treatment, Hodges succumbed to his injuries.
Prior to the Harlem slaying, Cruz had a history of criminal activity, with five previous arrests. One such incident occurred in July 2020 when Cruz was arrested for threatening a person with a box cutter in Midtown West while shouting threats of violence. When police intervened, Cruz resisted arrest and was subsequently taken into custody. Two weeks later, Cruz was arrested again for a robbery at knifepoint.
The release of the video showing Cruz’s involvement in the murder of Ray Hodges has shocked and horrified many people. The disturbing nature of the video, paired with the tragic circumstances of Hodges’ death, has raised questions about the motives and mental state of Cruz at the time of the attack. The fact that Cruz is facing murder charges underscores the severity of the crime and the impact it has had on Hodges’ family and the community at large.
As the investigation into the murder of Ray Hodges continues, authorities will likely delve deeper into Cruz’s background and prior criminal activities to determine what led to the violent attack. The emergence of the video on social media has added a new layer of complexity to the case, sparking outrage and calls for justice for the victim and his family. The tragic loss of a devoted postal worker and father has left a community grieving and searching for answers in the wake of this senseless act of violence.
