3 Charged After Migrant Fatally Stabbed On Randall's Island

NEW YORK CITY — Three people are facing charges after an asylum seeker fatally stabbed another migrant inside a Randall's Island tent shelter earlier this month, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Tuesday.

Dafren Canizalez, 24, died Jan. 6 at the migrant shelter after authorities said he got into an argument with another man in the facility's cafeteria. Prosecutors said Canizalez was attacked by a group, who "trapped and chased him until he collapsed."

Moises Coronado, 27, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and gang assault in connection with the attack, Bragg said. Ferneys Horta, 33, and Anthony Navas, 27, were also charged with manslaughter and gang assault, according to prosecutors.

According to authorities, Canizalez was staying at the migrant shelter when got into an argument with Coronado after the other man said something to Canizalez's girlfriend, the New York Daily News first reported.

Prosecutors said Coronado left the cafeteria to get a knife and returned with Horta and Navas, who also had knives in their pockets.

When the trio found Canizalez, the men surrounded him, prosecutors said. Canizalez punched Coronado in the face before the men chased him out of the cafeteria, knives in hand, until he was eventually blocked by a closed door, according to prosecutors.

As the men surrounded Canizalez, prosecutors said Coronado stabbed him multiple times. Canizalez was stabbed once in the hand and also suffered a fatal stab wound to his chest.

Coronado was arrested immediately following the attack, authorities said. Horta and Navas were arrested two days later, according to prosecutors.