Detectives collared a Brooklyn man on Saturday, a day after he allegedly stabbed his acquaintance to death at his apartment building.
Vito Bauza, 58, turned himself in to the 68th Precinct on Nov. 27 after allegedly murdering Ernest Diaz, 40, of 48th Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, in the horrific Black Friday attack.
Authorities said the incident happened at about 2:51 p.m. on Nov. 26 at The Dorset building located at 303 99th St.
Sources familiar with the investigation said Bauza and Diaz knew each other, though the nature of their connection was not yet known. At some point on Black Friday, Bauza repeatedly stabbed Diaz and then fled the scene as the victim sought aid in the building’s lobby.
Police sources said Bauza was shown in security camera footage exiting the location Friday afternoon with blood on his hands.
Officers from the 68th Precinct, in responding to a 911 call of a man bleeding at the location, found the victim in front of the location.
Diaz’s blood was everywhere: On the doors, the sidewalk, even smeared across the windows of the Bay Ridge apartment building’s lobby. Police said he was unconscious and unresponsive, and had suffered multiple stab wounds about his body.
Responding EMS units rushed the unconscious Diaz to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Following his surrender Saturday, Bauza was booked on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
This story was updated on Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
