NYPD reports first homicide of 2010

Less than three hours into the new year, New York City had its first homicide.

An early morning altercation between three people in East New York, Brooklyn, ended with Kirk Holgate, 21, stabbed to death, the NYPD said.

Responding to a call, police found Holgate with stab wounds to his groin and face at 2:53 a.m. Holgate, of Springfield Gardens, Queens, was pronounced dead upon arrival about 40 minutes later at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn.

An unknown assailant stabbed Holgate and a 27-year-old man at the corner of Ashford Street and Pitkin Avenue, police said. Police have not released the name of the second victim, who was stabbed in the back and found in a parked car near the corner where the attack took place. The second victim was listed in stable condition at Brookdale.

An investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

The fatal stabbing comes days after the city announced it was on the verge of having the fewest homicides in 2009 since the current tracking method was adopted in 1963. As of Sunday, the city had recorded 461 homicides compared with a peak of 2,245 in 1990. Updated homicide statistics for the year were not available.