An outside view of 19 Maple Ave in Cortland, where the incident took place on Tuesday November 2, 2021.
A man was charged and arrested late Tuesday evening after stabbing a male victim to death in the city of Cortland, according to a release from city police late this afternoon.
On Tuesday at about 11:10 p.m., city police officers responded to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center for a report of David O. Sears-Lopez, 28, of 18 Evergreen Street in Cortland, who suffered a stab wound to the chest.
City police received calls earlier in the night related to the incident, one of them being a witness who saw Sears-Lopez being stabbed by another man in the roadway in front of 19 Maple Ave. in Cortland, the release states.
The release states that based on interviews and a quick investigation of the situation, it was determined that Harold John Young, 56, of 1222 Packer St. in McKeesport, Pa., was responsible for stabbing Sears-Lopez.
The release states that Sears-Lopez, who was reportedly dating one of Young’s daughters, engaged in an argument with Young that “turned physical” before the stabbing.
Sears-Lopez was airlifted to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse from Guthrie for further emergency treatment. Following unsuccessful surgery, Sears-Lopez died from the stab wound.
Young has been charged with murder in the second degree (an A-I Felony) and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (also a felony).
According to records confirmed by city police, Young has an active warrant on him that dates back to Oct. 4, 2018. Young’s warrant is related to a criminal possessing the precursors to methamphetamine.
Young was recently arraigned and remanded to Cortland County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear in city court this Monday at 9 a.m.
City detective lieutenant Mike Strangeway is requesting any pertinent information to the investigation. Those with information can contact Strangeway at either 607-758-8307 or [email protected].
