Bouncer Charged with Manslaughter in Fatal Stabbing Outside Brooklyn Bar

A bouncer at a Brooklyn bar has been charged with manslaughter following a deadly stabbing incident that occurred just outside the establishment. Maurice Hartridge, 43, was apprehended on Saturday in connection with the death of Daryl Dawkins, 37, outside the Catch 22 bar on Third Avenue near 73rd Street in Bay Ridge. The incident took place shortly before 3 a.m. on April 7, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Dawkins, a former Brooklyn resident who had relocated to Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, had been at the bar for an extended period of time and was attempting to buy drinks for multiple women before the altercation began, as stated by NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. Dawkins claimed to have paid for a drink that he never received, leading to an argument with a female bartender over his bill. A male bartender intervened and asked Dawkins to calm down, but he refused. Subsequently, the bouncers decided to escort him outside.

In grainy video footage, it appears that Dawkins swung at one of the bouncers, initiating a physical altercation. During the scuffle, Dawkins fell to the ground after receiving a single stab wound to his upper left chest, which struck his heart and aorta. The criminal complaint states that Hartridge, the bouncer, was the last person to make physical contact with Dawkins before he collapsed. The complaint further reveals that Dawkins made a punching motion towards Hartridge, prompting the bouncer to grab and push him backward.

Surveillance footage from a nearby camera shows Dawkins on his hands and knees after being stabbed, with bystanders gradually gathering around him. Despite being rushed to NYU Langone Brooklyn, Dawkins succumbed to his injuries.

Hartridge, who resides in the Bronx but was employed as a bouncer at the Brooklyn bar, has been charged with manslaughter. He is currently being held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond, according to the District Attorney’s office. Hartridge’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday.

The Catch 22 bar has been known for its rowdiness, according to neighbors and locals. Some residents have called for the establishment to be shut down due to frequent arguments and altercations. Moses Alhusaini, the manager of M&S Minimarket across the street, attested to witnessing numerous issues at the bar during the pandemic, including fights among the crowds. However, he expressed surprise at the recent incident, noting that the bar’s owner had been taking the matter seriously.