BY MATT TRACY
A man’s boyfriend stabbed
him to death in a fi t of jealous
rage in Bay Ridge the
day after Thanksgiving — all
because his new girlfriend
bought him a brand new coat,
according to the New York
Daily News.
Vito Bauza, 56, turned
himself in on Nov. 27 and
was charged with murder
and criminal possession of a
weapon after allegedly killing
his boyfriend, 40-year-old
Ernest Diaz, who had three
children with a longtime girlfriend.
A law enforcement source
confi rmed that Bauza admitted
to authorities that he had
a relationship with Diaz and
said the pair argued over
money prior to the fatal stabbing.
But the issue over Diaz’s
coat was apparently the fi nal
straw that prompted Bauza to
lash out at the victim.
Bauza allegedly became
enraged when Diaz — who was
wearing the coat — showed
up at his home at 303 99th St.
in Bay Ridge. Upon arriving,
Diaz went into Bauza’s bathroom
to shower — and when
he fi nished up, Bauza subsequently
COURIER LIFE, D 10 ECEMBER 24-30, 2021
stabbed him, according
to the Daily News. Bleeding
badly, Diaz tried to escape
but Bauza punched him in
the head in the lobby, per
video surveillance footage.
Bauza then stabbed Diaz multiple
times, leaving him unconscious
Police investigate the scene of a bloody stabbing which played out into the lobby of a Bay Ridge apartment
building on Black Friday. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
and unresponsive
when authorities arrived.
Diaz, who worked a security
guard and bouncer, was
rushed to NYU Langone-
Brooklyn, formerly Lutheran
Hospital, where he was pronounced
dead.
The gruesome crime scene
was drenched with blood, am-
NewYork Metro reported. The
building’s lobby had blood on
the doors, the nearby sidewalk,
and windows.
Diaz was trying to end his
relationship with Bauza so
he could dedicate his time to
his new girlfriend, according
to the Daily News. Diaz
and Bauza maintained a relationship
for two decades
and Bauza was a godfather to
Diaz’s kids. He was also said
to have helped Diaz with his
bills.
Bauza is being held without
bail at Rikers Island.
JEALOUSY
AT PLAY
Details emerge after fatal
stabbing in Bay Ridge