Man stabbed to death in Hillcrest, police in search of suspect

BY MICHAEL RICONDA

Police are now hunting for a man who may be responsible for a killing at a Hillcrest birthday party which left Riccardo Barrett, 22, dead.

According to police, 20-year-old Otha Williams from the Bronx Williams is currently being sought as a person-of-interest. Williams is still believed to be in the Spring Valley-Hillcrest area.

Though he has not been named as a suspect, Williams matches the physical description of a man who allegedly pulled a gun during a verbal altercation outside the party and threatened multiple people. Police explained Williams was staying at his friends’ house across the street.

The murder occurred when Barrett was walking by the party with his girlfriend and attempted to diffuse a verbal altercation between the shooter and others. Though initial reports indicated a gun was drawn by the suspect, who threatened Barrett before shooting him, a medical examiner report revealed he was stabbed instead.

“The Rockland County Medical Examiner has determined that the cause of death in this homicide is due to a stab wound to the chest,” Captain Brad Wiedel of the Ramapo Police Department explained.

Barrett was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel before being brought to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police with the county’s Rescue Entry and Counter Terrorism Team were called in on a report that Williams ran back inside his friends’ house after the incident. Though they did not apprehend Williams, they did bring another man in for questioning.

Police also questioned more than a dozen witnesses. Information on the case may be provided by calling the Ramapo Police Department at 845-357-2400.

  hillcrest stabbing, otha williams, riccardo barrett