Authorities arrested a Boerum Hill man for allegedly fatally stabbing his 83-year-old neighbor thirty times inside the elevator of their shared apartment building.
Joevani Vale, 27, was arraigned Friday on an indictment for murder, along with assault and attempted assault, in connection with three other incidents that occurred hours before and after the fatal stabbing of Ramon Cintron on April 8.
“I am heartbroken that 83-year-old Ramon Cintron died in such a violent and horrifying way and my condolences go out to his family, friends and neighbors,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “We will now seek to hold the defendant responsible for the murder of Mr. Cintron, as well as the other alleged attacks with which he is charged.”
According to an investigation by the DA’s office, Vale’s alleged crime spree began at 12:47 p.m. on April 8 when he began following a woman in the vicinity of Third Avenue and Pacific Street in Boerum Hill.
The woman told investigators that Vale asked her if she was lost, and continued to follow her after she told him she was not. She stopped to let him pass and he then allegedly punched her in the shoulder.
At 1:25 p.m., prosecutors allege that Vale began following another woman in the vicinity of 134 Nevins St., before slashing her in the back of her thigh. She was treated at a local hospital for her injuries.
Later that afternoon at 2:20 p.m, Vale is alleged to have followed Ramon Cintron into an elevator at 185 Nevins St., at the Wyckoff Gardens Housing Development in Boerum Hill, where they both resided.
According to the DA’s office, he used a sharp object to stab Cintron in the neck, torso, back and legs, approximately 30 times. When Cintron tried to get out of the elevator when the doors opened, Vale allegedly kicked him back into the elevator and fled.
After being arrested by cops three days later on April 11, Vale was brought to the psychiatric ward at Maimonides Medical Center where it is also alleged that he punched an NYPD officer who was guarding.
On Friday, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice ordered that Vale be held without bail.
He is due to return to court on Sept. 29 where he faces charges of second-degree murder, second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree attempted assault, second-degree harassment, third-degree attempted assault and fourth-degree stalking.
