Severiano "John" Reyes, 36, slashed to death standing up for cousin at bodega in Brooklyn, family says
NEW YORK - One man was killed and two people were hurt in a stabbing inside a Williamsburg bodega Tuesday.
Police say they are still searching for a suspect.
Wednesday, there was a growing memorial for 36-year-old Severiano "John" Reyes at the crime scene. It included a picture of Reyes with his 13-year-old daughter, Mariah, at her middle school graduation.
She spoke to CBS New York's Natalie Duddridge on behalf of her family with her mother's consent.
"He loved his family a lot," Mariah said. "I miss him already ... He would try to support me, get me stuff."
Around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Reyes was standing on Roebling and South Ninth streets when police say a random man started taking pictures of him.
His sister, Yvette Reyes, told CBS New York he got into an argument with the man when he wouldn't stop.
"Started chasing my brother around the car. My brother was running and running, like, 'Get him away from me.' Then when my brother went to run inside the store, the guy stabbed him," Reyes told CBS New York by phone. "My cousins were there, where she got to actually hit the suspect with a bat."
John Reyes' cousin, a 27-year-old woman, was slashed at the wrist, and a 45-year-old friend John Reyes called "Cousin" was stabbed in the neck and back. They are both recovering.
"Him and the other friend from the neighborhood were trying to stand up for her, basically saying, 'Why are you taking pictures? Stop taking pictures.' And the guy just attacked them," friend Phil Proszowski told CBS New York's John Dias. "They just couldn't save him, there was too much blood. Detectives said that it was just too much bleeding and there was nothing they could do."
John Reyes was stabbed in the neck and later died at Bellevue Hospital.
"It's unreal. I'm not happy, my heart is heavy. I don't know what to do, what to say, or how to feel anymore right now," said Reyes' cousin and godfather Michael Figueroa. "Not only that he was my cousin, he was my godson. It's not easy."
John Reyes was born and raised in Williamsburg, and he was well-liked in the community. Family and friends say they'll continue to sit vigil outside the bodega until funeral arrangements are made.
"He grew up here and was a good person," one person said.
"Very devastating," Yvette Reyes said. "He leaves behind four children that he loved very much and two siblings. He was such a good person at heart."
The suspect is still on the run. Anyone with information about the slashing is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.