By Jeff Mays and Jim Scott
DNAinfo Staff
MANHATTAN — A 48-year-old woman died after being stabbed several times Thursday by a man in a Harlem apartment, police said.
Police found the Bronx woman, Alberta Engram, 48, with several stab wounds to her torso inside an apartment at 105 W. 138th Street just before 6 p.m., the NYPD said. Engram was taken to Harlem Hospital for treatment, but died from her wounds at 12:30 a.m. on Friday.
Anthony Kelly, 46, was arrested by Friday morning and charged with second degree murder, possession of a weapon and resisting arrest, police said.
Kelly, who lives in the apartment, allegedly stabbed Engram during a dispute, police said.
The floors of the apartment building, located near Lenox Avenue, were stained with blood Friday and a police officer was stationed outside of Kelly's apartment.
Shocked neighbors said they heard a commotion last night and then saw the victim being carried out, covered head to toe in blood. Kelly was carried out by police in restraints, neighbors said.
"I heard a lot of aggressiveness and commotion and then my neighbor called police," said Freddie Vega, who has lived across the hall from Kelly for a year. "The girl was saying: 'Give me water! Give me water."
Vega said he has seen the victim and Kelly together a few times around the area.
Neighbors had differing views of Kelly. Some described him as a nice guy who helped the women in the building carry groceries and laundry up the stairs of the walk-up and who borrowed food to feed his cat. But others said he acted strangely at times.
"They say he was a problem in the area," said Vega. "He looked like he was under the influence of a substance. He would look different at different times."
Another neighbor, who asked that her name not be used, said she bought loose cigarettes from Kelly and would give him food for his cat.
"I thought of him as a nice guy that spoke to everyone," the woman said.
She said her brother spotted her talking to Kelly one day and told her to avoid him.
"He said: 'I can't tell you who to let in your house but I don't want him here. He's crazy. I guess I know what he meant now," the woman said.
But Fatima Zazi, who has lived one floor below Kelly for four years, said she couldn't believe he had been charged with murder. She said Kelly would carry heavy bags up the stairs for her and loved joking with her son.
"I don't believe it because he was a very nice guy. He always respected me," he said.
Zazi said she saw Kelly the other day with a woman she believes was the stabbing victim and said they were in good spirits.
"She was dressed nicely and I spoke to both of them. He told her: 'That's my African sister' and she laughed. It was the first and last time I saw her," said Zazi.