RENSSELAER, N.Y. — A stabbing early Sunday morning in the City of Rensselaer left one man dead and another facing a murder charge, according to local authorities.
Police said officers were dispatched to John Street around 12:04 a.m. on September 21, 2025, following reports of a stabbing. When they arrived, they discovered Brent Reed, 32, of Rensselaer, suffering from chest injuries consistent with a knife attack.
Emergency responders from the Rensselaer Fire Department, Mohawk Ambulance, Ambulnz, and an Albany Medical Center fly-car provided immediate medical treatment at the scene before rushing Reed to Albany Medical Center. Despite their efforts, Reed was later pronounced dead.
Investigators quickly began working to identify a suspect. With assistance from the New York State Police, authorities were able to track down 34-year-old Michael Bermudez-Gagnon of Coeymans later the same day. Bermudez-Gagnon was arrested and charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree.
On Sunday afternoon, Bermudez-Gagnon was arraigned before Judge Linda Johnson in Rensselaer City Court and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail. A follow-up court appearance has been scheduled for later this week.
In a statement, the Rensselaer Police Department extended its appreciation to the many agencies that assisted in the investigation, including the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office and the police departments of North Greenbush, East Greenbush, and Watervliet.
“The Rensselaer Police extend our condolences to the victim’s family and friends,” the department said. “This investigation is still in its early stages.”
The killing has shaken the community, where violent crime of this nature is relatively uncommon. Neighbors described being alarmed by the heavy police presence on John Street in the early morning hours, as crime scene tape blocked off the area while detectives collected evidence.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact the Rensselaer Police Department’s Detective Division at 518-462-7451.
As Reed’s family and friends mourn his loss, police and prosecutors say they remain committed to pursuing justice in what is now being treated as a homicide investigation.
