TOWN OF WALLKILL – A 22-year-old City of Middletown man has been arrested in connection with the mid-morning stabbing death of a 74-year-old man in front of a gas station at 2580 Route 302 in the Town of Wallkill.
Town Police located the victim, Joel Laddy of Wallkill, with at least one stab wound to his body. He was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center in Wallkill by Town of Wallkill Emergency Medical Services, where he later died.
The suspect, identified as Horace Duke, was located and apprehended nearby.
Police Chief Robert Hertman said at this point, it is unclear what precipitated the incident.
“We are still going through the investigation, interviewing witnesses and we will make a final determination and all of that information will be shared with the district attorney’s office who will prosecute the case going forward,” he said.
Police had responded to a report of a fight in progress at 9:43 a.m. at the Route 17 westbound exit 119 ramp at the intersection of Route 302 in Wallkill.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Wallkill Town Police Detectives at 845-692-6757.
Assisting during the investigation are the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and State Department of Transportation.
