A Long Island man was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of a man whom he caught stealing the wheels off his car this week, cops said.
Jacob Alvarenga Mejia, 28, was at his home on Jericho Turnpike in Bellerose Village around 1:30 a.m. May 13 when he spotted three men trying to steal the wheel rims and tires from his parked 2023 Toyota Highlander, Nassau County Police said.
Mejia walked outside with a large kitchen knife and stabbed one of the men, Luis Pena, 22, of the Bronx, multiple times in the upper torso, authorities said.
The trio fled, and the wounded man was taken to a hospital in the Big Apple by the other two alleged thieves, police said.
He was pronounced dead there, cops said.
Mejia was arrested around 8 a.m. Thursday, following a “thorough investigation,” with NYPD assistance, Nassau cops said.
In addition to the manslaughter charge, he faces a first-degree assault rap, police said.
His arraignment is expected Friday.