Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that 18-year-old Derek Trejo and a 17-year-old co-defendant have been charged with murder and weapon possession for the stabbing death of 17-year-old Josue Argudo in Woodhaven on Friday. The two defendants argued with the victim, who was returning home from school, and allegedly acted in concert to punch and stab the teen with a knife.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said: “A 17- and an 18-year-old have been charged with the murder of Josue Argudo, who was senselessly stabbed to death on a Woodhaven street this past Friday afternoon. As alleged, the teenage perpetrator and co-defendant, Derek Trejo, engaged the 17-year-old victim in an argument on Jamaica Avenue that soon became physical. The teenage defendant produced a knife and stabbed Argudo in the torso. Despite the assistance of good Samaritans and first responders, Josue passed away a short time later. The defendants were remanded at their arraignments and the investigation into this callous act of violence is ongoing. We join the family and friends of Josue as they mourn his loss.”

Trejo, 18, who is undomiciled, and the 17-year-old, of Edgemere, were arraigned late Sunday night on charges of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Queens Criminal Court Judge Lana Schlesinger remanded the defendants and ordered the 17-year-old to return to court yesterday. She ordered Trejo to return to court January 15.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges, on January 9, between approximately 3:25 p.m. and 3:43 p.m., Josue Argudo was walking home from school along Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven when he got into a verbal argument with the 17-year-old defendant and Trejo. The 17-year-old allegedly stabbed Josue, who ran down 76^th Street before collapsing. Trejo allegedly followed the teen, punching him and hitting Josue with his headphones.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased shortly after the incident.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Shane Witteman of the 102^nd Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Thomas Scalise of the Queens South Homicide Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Graham Amodeo of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauszpigel under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and Karen Ross and Jonathan Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.