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Police say a 69-year-old man has been taken into custody after he allegedly stabbed his 59-year-old girlfriend to death during an argument in their Greenwich Village apartment Thursday. Checkey Beckford reports. (Published Friday, May 2, 2014)

A 69-year-old man is accused of killing his 59-year-old girlfriend with an ax and a knife during an argument in their Greenwich Village apartment Thursday, police say.

Dennis Guglielmo has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon after the death of Alice Birnbaum.

Police say the suspect and victim were arguing in their third-floor apartment on Downing Street when the man allegedly attacked her with both an ax and knife, police say.

Birnbaum had multiple stab wounds to her chest and body, according to police. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and Guglielmo was taken into custody.

Guglielmo is a former co-owner of Carmine Street Guitars, a music store where musicians pay $1,500 for custom guitars made from wood salvaged from landmarks around the city, the New York Times reports. He lost his stake in the store after unsuccessfully suing his partner, a fellow business owner told the Times.

Stunned neighbors said the suspect is well-known and liked in the area

Attorney information for Guglielmo wasn't immediately available.

-- Checkey Beckford contributed to this report.

Published at 9:29 PM EDT on May 1, 2014 | Updated at 7:42 AM EDT on May 2, 2014