Jennifer Wholey contributed reporting.
ITHACA, N.Y. — Ithaca man Nagee Green is being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault in the stabbing death of Ithaca College Student Anthony Nazaire at Cornell University Aug. 28.
Green, 23, was taken into custody in Freeville Monday afternoon in Tompkins County while waiting for a bus. He was taken into custody without incident.
Monday night Green pled not guilty to both charges at the arraignment in Ithaca City Court. He is represented by Ithaca attorney Lance Salisbury.
Green was escorted into court room by two IPD officers during the arraignment, and will be held without bail at the Tompkins County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. November 10 in front of Judge Richard Wallace.
Acting District Attorney Andrew Bonavia is prosecuting the case.
No other suspects are being pursued in this crime, Chief John Barber said in a news release.
Green is not a student at Ithaca College or Cornell University, he said.
“This act of unspeakable violence has no place here in Ithaca and is not representative of who were are as a community,” Barber said. “To the Nazaire family, I again offer my sincere condolences from area law enforcement agencies, and from the entire Ithaca community for the tragic and senseless murder of Anthony, who by all accounts was an amazing young man.”
Mayor Svante Myrick said, “We may not have any solace tonight (but) you can be assured that we will have justice’.’
Nazaire was stabbed to death during a brawl in front of Ho Plaza at Cornell University. Police spent months pursuing more than 300 leads on the case.
(Video by Mike Blaney/The Ithaca Voice)
Cornell University released the following statement:
Dear Cornell Community:
I am writing tonight to convey the news of an important development in the investigation into the fatal stabbing of Ithaca College student Anthony Nazaire that occurred August 28 near Campus Road. The Ithaca Police Department this evening announced the arrest of Nagee E. Green, 23, of Freeville, N.Y., in connection with the case. Green is in the custody of Ithaca Police and has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault. Police may file additional charges in the future.
I want to thank the Ithaca Police Department, the Cornell University Police Department and other law enforcement partners for their dedication, tenacity and coordinated efforts that culminated in today’s arrest.
Be assured that the safety of our students, faculty and staff remains a top priority. We will sustain elevated patrols and Blue Light escorts on campus at least through the end of the semester as we continue to evaluate improvements to campus safety and emergency preparedness.
Yours Sincerely,
Hunter R. Rawlings III
Interim President
Ithaca College President Tim Rochon also released a statement:
It is with great relief that we convey the news from the Ithaca Police Department that an arrest has been made in the August 28 murder of Ithaca College student Anthony Nazaire ’19.
According to Chief of Police John Barber, charges of second-degree murder and second-degree assault have been filed against Nagee Green. He was taken into custody on November 7 in nearby Freeville, N.Y. He is being held in the Tompkins County jail, and his case is scheduled to go before a grand jury on November 10. Green is not an enrolled student at any of the local colleges or universities.
I wish to express my gratitude to the many officers and investigators from local law enforcement agencies who have spent countless hours investigating this case, including those from the Ithaca Police Department, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Cornell University Police, and the college’s own Office of Public Safety.
The killing of Anthony and wounding of another student have had a deep impact on everyone connected with the college. We have felt both sorrow and anger as a result of this violent crime, and the loss it has brought to so many. While his family cannot be made whole again, we can all do Anthony justice by continuing to keeping his memory alive in our hearts.
It is also my hope that members of the campus community will continue to reach out to one another to provide support and healing as this case moves forward through the criminal justice process. As always, students can find assistance through the Ithaca College Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, while faculty and staff can speak to a counselor through the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-327-2255.
Tom Rochon
President
Related: Family IDs 19-year-old Ithaca College student killed in stabbing at Cornell
Note: The mugshot of Green in this story is a mugshot from a previous crime.