Man Charged with Murder in Binghamton Apartment Stabbing

Suspect Roy A. Peterson arrested after fatal attack inside housing facility

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:35pm

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An extreme close-up of a bloodied knife blade, captured in stark, gritty detail under harsh flash lighting against a dark background, conceptually representing the violence of a fatal stabbing incident.A violent crime scene exposes the urgent need for improved security and support services in Binghamton's low-income housing communities.Binghamton Today

A 54-year-old Binghamton man has been charged with second-degree murder after a fatal stabbing inside a city apartment building. Police responded to a 911 call early Friday morning and found the victim with a significant abdominal wound, who later died at a nearby hospital. The suspect, Roy A. Peterson, was taken into custody at the scene.

Why it matters

Violent crime and public safety issues in Binghamton's low-income housing communities have been an ongoing concern, with this incident highlighting the need for increased security, mental health resources, and community-based solutions to address the root causes of such violence.

The details

According to police, officers were dispatched to the 29 Virgil Street apartment building just after midnight on a 911 call reporting a stabbing. They found the victim suffering from a serious abdominal wound in a common stairwell and rushed them to the hospital, where they later died around 2:30 a.m. Suspect Roy A. Peterson was located and arrested inside one of the building's apartments.

  • The incident occurred just after midnight on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • The victim died around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Roy A. Peterson

A 54-year-old Binghamton resident who has been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal apartment stabbing.

Family Enrichment Network

The non-profit organization that owns the 29 Virgil Street apartment building where the stabbing took place, which provides 19 supportive housing units as part of its 'Housing Connections' program.

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What’s next

Peterson is being held at Broome County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Binghamton City Court for further proceedings.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the ongoing challenges of providing safe, supportive housing for vulnerable populations in Binghamton, and the critical need for increased investment in community-based solutions to address the root causes of violence in these neighborhoods.