Police: Homeless Man Arrested in Fatal Stabbing in Freeport Woods

A homeless man who lived in a wooded area in Freeport with several other homeless men faces a murder charge following a stabbing in the woods earlier this week, State Police said Saturday.

Ruben Ballo-Javier, 31, is charged with second degree murder.

Police say Ballo-Javier stabbed Narcisco Cruz Vasquez, who is also homeless, five times in the chest at about 4:09 p.m. on Monday. The men had been arguing before the fatal stabbing, police said.

The Village of Freeport Police Department and State Police responded to the scene, located on Sunrise Highway, just west of the Meadowbrook State Parkway.

Cruz Vasquez was transported to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Ballo-Javier is due to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday. Anyone with information on the case should contact the New York State Police at 631-756-3300.

Photo: Google Maps

Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here

More on Patch:

• Police: Teen Injured in Copiague Shooting
• Long Island Man Killed in NJ Crash With Tractor-Trailer
• Police: Wooden Figure in Sweatshirt Does Not Count as Passenger in HOV Lane
• Two Men Seriously Hurt in North Patchogue Crash
• 3 Hurt, 1 Seriously, in Hauppauge Crash Involving Stony Brook Fire Chief
• Long Island Man Competing on ‘Survivor’
• DA: Long Island Gym Owner Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Clients
• DA: Man Pleads Guilty to 2012 Rape of Stony Brook House Sitter
• Brookhaven Town Shutters Another Supermarket
• Police: Ridge Woman Drove Drunk With Her 2-Month-Old Baby in Car