Popular DJ stabbed to death after Friday night gig

Posted at: 09/23/2012 1:32 AM
By: Dan Levy

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SCHENECTADY - Schenectady Police say they have no suspects yet in the overnight stabbing death of a local DJ, killed outside his home, just ninety minutes after wrapping up his final Friday night gig.

News Channel 13 is withholding the victim's name because police tell us, as of midnight Saturday, they still haven't been able to find, and notify, all of his family members.

It's a killing that has stunned and horrified friends and neighbors.

Yellow crime scene tape remained in place late Saturday afternoon at 65 North Elm Street in Schenectady, with city police officers still guarding the perimeter, where emergency crews were summoned at 2:38 A.M. Saturday morning.

"We responded and found the victim laying on the front stoop," said Schenectady Police Lieutenant Mark McCracken, "He appeared to be suffering from a chest wound."

Police confirmed the 47-year old victim died from a stab wound, even though several neighbors reported hearing gunshots over night, something police say they're investigating.

Police were released very little information in the case including, any possible suspects, whether or not a murder weapon was found, or what the motive might have been.

Every Friday night for the last ten years, the victim worked as a DJ at the Duane Lounge on Duane Street, just off Brandywine, where Barbara Henderson has run things for 38 years.

"He would never have an enemy," Henderson said, choking back tears. "He was the most soft-spoken, wonderful, quiet man I have ever met and I meet a lot of people who come through this door."

Henderson says she had been crying all day Saturday ever since detectives stopped by in the morning to tell her the bad news. She also says she didn't see anything or anyone unusual hanging out at the Lounge Friday night. She believes if the victim had suspected something was wrong, he'd have told her about it.

"He would be the last person in the world that I thought this would happen to," Henderson continued, "But you know sometimes you're at the wrong place at the wrong time and I believe maybe that was the case."

The murder victim had another job as a customer service rep at the UHaul on Hamburg Street. He had been there for about seven years.

His boss says he was "a good worker and a good friend and always reliable."

News Channel 13 is withholding the victim's name and photograph until police tell us all family members have been notified.