A Queens man who was attempting to break up a fight inside a Jamaican home was brutally stabbed this month. According to the police, an alleged suspect started an altercation with a friend and then fled the scene, only to be caught in Indiana inside a car with a large number of drugs.
The alleged suspect in question, Muhammad Habib, 24, has been charged with murder, weapons possession, tampering with a witness, and assault related to the Queens, New York stabbing. In Hancock County, where he was apprehended, he also faces many local drug charges.
Reports from the New York Police said that Wycliffe “Chris” Gentles, 43, died defending his 30-year-old friend Ruhel Choudhury after Habib entered their Jamaica home on Guy R. Brewer Blvd. near Tuskegee Airmen Way carrying drugs at approximately 10:40 am on April 13.
Regarding the relationship between Gentles and Choudhury, New York Daily News reports that the duo met and became friends fixing cars. Both have been living together for the past few months, and they knew Habib as a car customer, according to the Daily newspaper.
Choudhury told the New York Daily News on his reaction when Habib entered their home on April 13, as the alleged suspect appeared to be high
“I don’t believe in drugs,” he said. “Habib has no right to come into my house.”
Police officials in their reports said Gentles had tried to separate the fight and ended up in an altercation with Habib. As the quarrel heated on, Habib took out a knife and began slashing at Gentles, who then tried to defend himself and got a heavy ashtray and struck on Habib at the head.
Habib, who is now enraged, chased Gentles down the stairs. As the wild fight continued outside their Jamaica residence, Habib gained upper hand, and Gentles fell on the ground. It was then Habib allegedly began to stab Gentles seven times in the neck and torso. He punctured his left chest, lung, and pulmonary artery, according to the prosecutors.
“I’m trying to hold his blood in,” Choudhury said to the New York Daily News. “I had blood all over, I couldn’t see who I was calling. Blood was all over me,” he added as he tried to reach 911 while attempting to save his friend’s life also.
Gentles could not be saved, despite medics rushing him to Jamaican Hospital. Hours later, Habib, who had to flee the scene with a car, sent to threatening message to Choudhury, warning that he would hurt him too if he snitched.
“Snitches get treated the same,” the message reportedly read
However, Habib was found that night in Hancock County, Indiana, when he was apparently on his way to Missouri with 22-year-old Khusbu Patel of Queens.
The Sergent who apprehended them reported he observed the white Honda Civic the pair occupied commit multiple lane violations, prompting him to run the license plate. James Goodwin, the Sergent, later found that the occupants were wanted on felony charges and considered armed and dangerous.
Police reported they found two pounds of suspected marijuana, suspected crack cocaine, multiple packages of illicit pills, and heroin in the car after it was stopped. Patel. who is accompanying Habib, was found to have concealed suspected narcotics in her clothing, according to the report.
On Thursday, Habib was returned to Queens to face charges when a jury ordered him held without bond on charges of murder, weapons possession, witness tampering, and assault.
