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Arrest made in Friday the 13th stabbing

Kingsbridge Heights teenager charged with murder

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Police have arrested a Kingsbridge Heights teenager in connection with a stabbing that claimed the life of a 28-year-old Inwood man last month.

Jeremiah N. Melendez, who lives at 2810 Bailey Ave., was charged over the weekend with second-degree murder in the killing of Ronnie Gardner just before 11 p.m., on April 13. Police did not release any other details of the arrest, including whether he was one of the four men sought for questioning by police last week.

Gardner was found that night at 2829 Sedgwick Ave., just a few blocks from Melendez's home, with stab wounds to his thigh. He was rushed to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he died.

Using video footage from around the crime scene, police identified four men they wanted to question in the case, including one with dark curly hair, last seen wearing a striped soccer jersey and a black hooded sweatshirt. 

The others included one wearing a blue du-rag as well as dark clothing, one with close-cut black hair last seen wearing a red and black sweatshirt, gray pants and black sneakers. And one man wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black sneakers. 

Video of the four men is available by clicking here.

Anyone with information on any of these men are asked to call the New York Police Department's Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-8477. Tips also can be submitted by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com, or by texting tips to 274637, and then entering "TIP577."

All calls, police say, are strictly confidential.

NYPD, New York Police Department, Kingsbridge Heights, Ronnie Gardner, Jeremiah N. Melendez,