A 16-year-old girl was fatally stabbed during a dispute that turned deadly inside a Bronx deli Tuesday afternoon — and a 17-year-old girl is now facing murder charges, according to police.
Aliya Williams, who lived just a short walk from the scene near Boston Road and Mickle Avenue in Williamsbridge, was attacked around 4 p.m. in what witnesses described as a sudden and senseless altercation.
“She was losing so much blood,” said a nearby store employee at Upcakes Cupcakes and Treats, who witnessed Williams’ final moments. “She tried, she was holding my arm, grabbing my arm… I would say she probably died in my arms right then and there.”
Police said Williams was stabbed multiple times in the face, chest, and body. She was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center but could not be saved.
Law enforcement sources say the deadly encounter stemmed from an argument between the two girls. At some point, Williams allegedly threw water at the other teen, who then pulled a knife and attacked her. No weapon has been recovered, but officers were seen combing storm drains and checking beneath parked cars as part of the ongoing investigation.
Williams’ family said they believe she was lured to the location, though they remain uncertain about what prompted the confrontation.
“She’s a nice person, she have manners, she listen to her parents,” said her Jamaican grandmother, Rose Anderson. “She’s sadly missed by everyone. I’m just sorry she had to go this way.”
The accused teen was arrested less than four hours after the incident and charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. Her name is being withheld because she is a minor.
“I knew this was going to happen,” said a local business owner who declined to be named. “It’s a different type of customer that goes there. I got a lot of text messages asking, ‘Is this the shop?’ I’m afraid people are not going to want to come in.”
The community is reeling from the tragedy, with neighbors mourning Williams’ loss and expressing concern over rising violence in the area.
