A Watervliet man is accused of stabbing his neighbor to death. 

Martin Bassett, 24, was charged with first-degree manslaughter in the killing of 24-year-old Darrell Willetts.

It happened around 3:45 p.m. Sunday at a residence on 514 6^th St., Watervliet Police said.

Bassett lived on the first floor and got into a dispute with Willetts, who was on the second floor. The fight escalated and lead to Bassett stabbing Willetts in the groin, police said. Willetts died from those injuries.

Watervliet Police Chief Joseph Centanni said the charges will be upgraded to second-degree murder.

He would not elaborate on the circumstances that led to the fatal stabbing.

“It was a neighbor dispute and certainly not something that should have resulted in the death or injury to anyone,” he said. There are witnesses to the incident, according to Centanni.

Bassett was arraigned in Watervliet City Court. He pleaded not guilty and was sent without bail to Albany County Jail.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact detectives at 518-270-3825.