Jamaica man charged with murder in fatal stabbing

The Queens Criminal Courthouse. Eagle file photo by David Brand

By Victoria Merlino

A Jamaica man has been charged with murder, following the fatal stabbing of a man who tried to stop him from fighting another person, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday. 

Muhammad Habib, 24, was allegedly caught on surveillance footage fighting with a man inside of 106-09 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in the late morning on April 13. The victim, 43-year-old South Jamaica resident Wycliffe Gentles, attempted to break up Habib and the other individual, prosecutors say. Habib began to also fight Gentles, and when he allegedly pulled out what appeared to be a knife, Gentles struck him over the head with an object, according to the charges. 

Habib allegedly chased Gentles down a flight of stairs, at which point Gentles found and raised a 2x4 wooden beam toward Habib. The fight continued outside, where Gentles fell to the ground, and Habib stabbed him seven times, according to the charges. 

Gentles died of his injuries. 

Habib allegedly fled the state after the incident, and was apprehended in Indiana the next day. 

According to the charges, later on the day of the fight, Habib texted the man he was originally fighting with and wrote “snitches get treated the same.”

Habib faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.