The death of a stabbing victim, who flagged down a driver early Sunday desperately seeking a ride to the hospital, has been ruled a homicide.

The victim is now identified as 49-year-old Jerry Hamilton Ellis.  Erie police criminal investigators say he was stabbed during a domestic argument with his girlfriend, 27-year-old Stachaira Monique Davis -- who goes by the nickname Bubbles.

The driver, who had just dropped his wife off at work at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, complied and took Ellis to the hospital.  The stabbing victim died a short time later while under emergency treatment.

After interviewing witnesses, police identified the stabbing suspect as Davis, and determined that the fatal assault took place outside the couple's apartment at 2637 Peach Street.  According to the police criminal complaint, officers found her hiding in between parked vehicles at the rear of the residence.  Investigators say she had blood on her hands and clothing.

"We were able to speak to many witnesses as well as an eyewitness to this stabbing," Deputy Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said. "We were able to ascertain that this happened outside of a residence in the 2600 block of  peach street."

Following an autopsy on Monday, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook formally ruled the death a homicide and said Ellis died of a stab wound to the chest.

Police say Davis’ five-year-old daughter, and a younger brother witnessed the stabbing during a domestic argument outside their home. The child told family members and police that, "Mommy poked Jerry."  The police report also says the child witnessed her mother return the knife to the kitchen, where she washed it before putting it away.

After the incident, Davis reportedly dropped her children off at her mother’s house, admitting the she and Jerry "got into it" and that she “might be going to jail.” 

Davis now faces charges including criminal homicide, murder, possessing instruments of crime, endangering the welfare of children and tampering with evidence.

Neighbors say police have been called to the couple's apartment previous times in response to domestic dispute claims from Davis.  "I'm not surprised -- what it led to because cops have been called here several times for domestics," Joseph Sipe said adding, "yeah it's sad you know somebody losing their life for it."