Kingston Man Stabs Another, Threatens To Cut Own Throat: Police

KINGSTON, NY — An Ulster County man was accused of stabbing another person with a knife in Kingston.

The City of Kingston Police Department said, shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, a New York State Police trooper said he saw a man with a knife in his hand holding it to his own throat in front of Ulster Performing Arts Center on Broadway in Kingston.

According to the trooper, the man appeared to be threatening harm to himself.

The man, identified as Gunercindo Diaz-Diaz, 41, of Kingston, did cut his own neck causing a minor laceration, police said.

The trooper used his stun gun to subdue Diaz-Diaz and then placed him in handcuffs for his own safety.

At that point, officers from the Kingston police department arrived and assisted in rendering first aid to him.

Diaz-Diaz was treated and taken to HealthAlliance Hospital by Kingston ire Department ambulance.

Soon thereafter, police said, a man with a stab wound was found nearby in the First Capital Barbershop Salon at 591 Broadway.

A 68-year-old barbershop employee had been slashed more than once by Diaz-Diaz, police said, suffering a severe wound to his abdomen.

He was taken by ambulance to HealthAlliance for emergency surgery in serious condition. Authorities said he is expected to make a full recovery.

Police said the barbershop employee and Diaz-Diaz were not known to each other, and a motive has not yet been identified.

Around midnight, Diaz-Diaz was released from the hospital and arrested by Kingston police.

He was charged with first-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felonies.

Diaz-Diaz was held overnight at Kingston Police Department for arraignment in Kingston City Court Friday morning.

If anyone has any information about this incident, they should contact the City of Kingston Police Department by calling 845-331-1671 or email.