A dispute over a soccer game on Saturday reportedly led to the stabbing death of a 19-year-old Newburgh man early Sunday morning at 70 Beacon St. in the City of Newburgh. One man faces charges in the killing and a second for felony possession of a weapon (a knife).

It was the seventh homicide of the year in the city.

The victim, Alejandro L. Lima, was found bleeding from numerous stab wounds when police officers arrived at the scene at about 3:50 a.m. Sunday. Lima was taken to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy conducted Monday revealed that the victim died from two stab wounds to his torso, one of which pierced his heart.

Raul Antonio Martinez

Police have arrested 30-year-old Raul Antonio Martinez and charged him with second-degree murder, a felony. Also charged in the case with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon was 25-year-old Darwin Garcia-Mendoza. Martinez is being held without bail and Mendoza was held on $3,500 cash or $7,500 bond.
According to police, two groups continued a dispute from a soccer game that had been played in the Town of Newburgh. The two groups gathered outside 70 Beacon St. in the city, then moved the fight to the rear yard of 70 Beacon St. Both Martinez and Garcia-Mendoza reside at that address.

The fight awakened a neighbor who later told officers that she heard someone say: “You and him; nobody else.” The neighbor said she later looked out her window and saw a body lying on the ground.

The City of Newburgh Police Detective Division and New York State Major Crimes Unit investigated the killing.

Darwin Mendoza

Police are continuing their investigation and anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the City of Newburgh Police Detective Division at 569-7509.

By ALLAN GAUL
agaul@tcnewspapers.com