Three family members, including a 5-year-old boy, were fatally stabbed in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx, with a suspect now in custody. The community is reeling from the deaths, which occurred at 674 E. 136th St., a tragedy that has deeply affected residents from the Bronx to Washington Heights.
The victims, identified as 38-year-old Jonathan Rivera, 33-year-old Hanoi Peralta, and their 5-year-old son, Kayden, were found by police around 6:40 a.m. on Sunday. The family was discovered in the hallway and inside their apartment, each suffering from stab wounds.
Eusebio Baez, a close friend of one of the victims, expressed his grief and desire for justice, calling the incident “brutal.” He remembered Rivera as a man with a “heart full of gold” and Peralta as a good partner. Kayden, the young boy, was remembered as joyful and animated.
Surveillance footage from a nearby bodega captured Peralta earlier that day. Dehan Ali, owner of 674 Neighborhood Grocery, recounted Peralta’s normal demeanor when she visited the store. Baez also shared that Rivera and Peralta had been on a date the night before, engaging in a paint and sip event, and seemed happy.
Neighbor Fernando Cruz reported hearing an altercation around 11 p.m. that night, including a significant noise that he suspected might have been connected to the fatal event.
Rivera, known as a loving father, was part of a large snowboarding community. Friends described him as protective and caring, always ensuring the safety and well-being of those around him. His son Kayden was fondly remembered for his playful spirit, often dressing up as superheroes like Spider-Man and Superman.
Police sources informed CBS New York that they suspect the killings were perpetrated by a family member and appeared to be a crime of passion.
