A man who stabbed his 25-year-old female roommate to death in Ridgewood late Wednesday night after an apparent argument has been arrested, police said.
The murder occurred at about 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 28 on Stanhope Street off Onderdonk Avenue.
Police said the victim — identified by police as Carolyn Bush — got into an argument with her 26-year-old male roommate, Render Stetson-Shanahan, at the residence. According to the charges, Shanahan pulled out a knife and lunged at Bush, prompting her to call 911.
Officers from the 104th Precinct and EMS units rushed to the scene and found Shanahan in a second-floor apartment with a stab wound to his leg that was determined to be self-inflicted. Bush was found in a nearby room with knife wounds to her neck, back and arm.
Paramedics brought Bush to Wyckoff Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Stetson-Shanahan was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment of his injury, which is not considered life-threatening.
In conjunction with the investigation, Stetson-Shanahan was arrested and charged with murder, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and two counts of criminal mischief. He is currently awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
“This is a disturbing case that ended with the death of a young, innocent woman,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said. “The defendant now faces a lengthy prison term if convicted of this senseless crime.”
This was the first reported homicide in the 104th Precinct in 2016; there were just two murders all of last year.
A vigil is planned for the victim at Wendy’s Subway, the Bushwick Avenue library and reading room she co-founded, for Sunday, October 2 at 5 p.m.
“We are exhausted with grief at the passing of our dear friend and co-founder Carolyn Bush. We love you Carolyn. You were our family and we were yours,” said Bush’s colleagues in a public statement on the Wendy’s Facebook page.
A version of this story first appeared on QNS.
Featured image: Detectives approach the apartment house on Stanhope Street where a 26-year-old woman was murdered Wednesday night. Photo by Robert Stridiron.
