The family of Enrique Perez Galindo, the 29-year-old New Brunswick man fatally stabbed recently, gathered to mourn his death.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- In the final minutes of his life, Enrique Perez Galindo stumbled to his front door bleeding from a stab wound to his chest and called out to his family for help.
"He was screaming his wife's name, and she came down and opened the door with their 10-year-old son. He said, 'They hit me,' and that's when he was no longer able to speak," said Galindo's niece, Liz Morales, 21, of North Brunswick.
Paramedics tried desperately to save Galindo's life. But 10 minutes later, the 29-year-old father of four breathed his last breath and died in front of his wife and oldest son.
Morales recounted the scene of panic and despair relayed to her by Galindo's wife as she joined other family members Wednesday outside Galindo's apartment on for a nine-day memorial, a part of the family's Mexican heritage.
"It doesn't make sense," Morales said. "Just out of nowhere. He never had a problem with anyone. From what we know, he didn't know them."
The day after the stabbing, police arrested Manuel "Manny" Maldonado, Jose David "Sparky" Vasquez-Rivera, 18, and Xavier "Caballo" Sanchez-Parral, 18, all of New Brunswick. They are charged with murder and robbery, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
All three are scheduled to appear in court for detention hearings on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Middlesex County Courthouse.
Galindo was stabbed at 2:30 a.m. Saturday in the driveway leading to his apartment complex on Hamilton Street, between Woodbridge and Bridge Streets, according to authorities.
The three men were trying to rob Galindo when he fought back and was stabbed in the tussle, authorities said.
"He was trying to defend himself," said Morales.
Galindo, who worked construction, came to America from Mexico when he was 14. Morales said after the funeral -- which is scheduled for Sunday -- the family plans to send Galindo's body to be buried back in Oaxaca, Mexico, where his sister and mother live.
In addition to his wife and 10-year-old son, Galindo had three other children 5 years old, 4 years old and 5 months old.
Inside a tent outside Galindo's apartment on Wednesday afternoon, a table was filled with flowers, candles, and a framed photo of Galindo. In the evening, family members and loved ones gathered to hold prayer and pay respects.
Standing next to Morales was Cirenia Perez -- Galindo's sister.
"The neighborhood doesn't feel safe," Perez said in Spanish with Morales helping her mother to translate.
New Brunswick police declined to comment on whether there was any connection between Galindo and the three men. The county prosecutor's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Nicolas Perez, a New Brunswick resident and one of Galindo's brothers, said the area where his brother was stabbed is pitch dark at night.
"There's very little light and the cameras don't work," said Nicolas Perez, who is often at his brother's apartment. "What can police do? You can't even see people."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.