New Haven Independent

Man Stabbed At Cookout

by Melissa Bailey | June 9, 2008 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Police have identified the person they believe is responsible for killing a man at a Newhallville cookout Saturday after a fight over a plate of food.

Roderick M. Wiggins was stabbed in the neck Saturday night in the backyard of 40-42 Lilac St., according to Capt. Peter Reichard, head of the detective bureau.

“He staggered into the house and collapsed in the kitchen of the first floor,” Reichard said. The victim was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before midnight. He was the city’s seventh homicide victim this year.

Wiggins, who lives at that address, had been gathered in his backyard with a group of people for a cookout Saturday. At 11 p.m., as people were cleaning up, Wiggins and another man got into a fight. Wiggins was stabbed once with an undetermined object.

Police held the three-story home as a crime scene overnight. Sunday, they executed a warrant to search the house. The house has since been reopened.

With the help of witness testimony, police have identified a “person of interest” they believe is responsible for the killing, Reichard said. Police haven’t released his name yet, but are “actively looking for” him.

Police were originally told the argument arose over “a plate of food,” Reichard said.

Police are still investigating the motive of the killing, he said. “We believe there’s probably more to it.”

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