TOWN OF WALLKILL – Middletown city resident Horace Duke, 22, has formally been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of 74-year-old Joel Laddy of the Town of Wallkill before 10 a.m. on Thursday, October, Deputy Wallkill Town Police Chief Antonino Spano said Friday.
Police were called to a reported fight in progress at the Route 17 westbound exit off ramp at the intersection with State Route 302 in Wallkill. During the confrontation, police said Laddy turned left onto Route 302 and went into the parking lot in front of 2580 Route 302 where he was located and treated by police and EMS personnel.
The vehicle driven by Duke turned right onto Route 302. It was located by police in front of 2468 Route 302 where he was apprehended.
Laddy was transported to Garnet Health medical Center where he wasd later pronounced dead.
In addition to the murder charge, Spano said Duke was charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
He was arraigned and remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Detective Division of Wallkill Town Police at 845-692-6757.
