JERSEY CITY - A father of 11 was stabbed to death Tuesday night at home by a teenager who tried robbing his 8-year-old son of a pair of sneakers, a family member said.
Jose "Migue" Malave, 30, died in front of his girlfriend and four of his children. He had moved into his apartment at 197 Palisade Ave. two months ago, his sister Yesenia Malave said.
Malave was known by his friends and family as a man who always tried to brighten everyone's day, his sister said.
"He was always outgoing, always happy, always trying to help people," Yesenia Malave said in a phone interview.
Earlier in the day, Jose Malave's son was almost robbed of his sneakers by a group of teenagers. The group later showed up to the Palisade Avenue home thinking the young boy had other nice thing, Yesenia Malave said. The 30-year-old had just gotten home to drop off his son before heading to his job as a construction worker, she added.
While she knew how charismatic her brother was, Yesenia Malave said she never realized just how many lives her brother touched.
"You could be down and he was the one who could bring your life up," she said.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said a 17-year-old boy has been charged with felony murder, armed burglary, weapons offenses, and conspiracy. His name has not been released because he is a juvenile.
Authorities were called to the home between Laidlaw and Jefferson avenues just after 7 p.m. Police found the 30-year-old in a "lifeless state" in the doorway of his apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene at about 7:25 p.m., Suarez said.
Jesus Malave, the victim's nephew, said he was frustrated about what happened to his uncle while defending his son. Jose Malave had a bright personality, he said.
"He was just full of life," the nephew said. "He was the life of the party."
The family has started a fundraising page to help support Jose Malave's children and pay for funeral services. A vigil will be held at 5 p.m. outside the Palisade Avenue apartment -- where two candles sat on the front porch Wednesday morning -- and then make its way to Baldwin Avenue, where his mother lives.
Malave's death is the 23nd homicide in Hudson County and 18th in Jersey City this year.
Anyone with information about the fatal stabbing is asked to call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor's website. All information will be kept confidential.
Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.