A homeless man was stabbed to death on the eastern edge of downtown Baltimore yesterday in an argument with another man over food stamps.
Witnesses told police the victim, whose identity was still a mystery six hours after his death, was at a playground in the first block of Aisquith Street about 12:30 p.m. when a man offered to sell him food stamps.
The homeless man, thought to be in his 50s, did not want to buy them. The seller persisted, Detective Marvin Sydnor said, and the two began fighting. During the fist fight, the seller took out a paring knife and stabbed the homeless man.
The homeless man was stabbed at least 10 times, the officer said. The assailant dropped the knife and ran.
Housing Authority police caught the man before he got out of the neighborhood. Homicide detectives were questioning the 34-year-old suspect.