Cops shoot 'killer'

A lunatic was shot by police yesterday after he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death on a Bronx balcony -- right in front of the officers.

Frederick Mendes, 53, slaughtered gal pal Terenace Williams, 57, at her Edenwald apartment because he feared she was cheating on him, he allegedly told police.

The construction worker was shot in the stomach and hip, but still kept cops at bay for three hours while swigging Hennessy and slashing his wrists and neck before cops broke down the door and arrested him.

"As soon as the cops came, he started stabbing her . . . The guy was stabbing her like a piece of pork," said stunned witness, Tommy Brown, 38.

Tomas E. Gaston

BX. HORROR: Police yesterday work the scene where the suspect allegedly went into a murderous rage.

The drama unfolded at about 8:30 a.m. yesterday, when Mendes, who has 22 prior arrests, got into a shouting match with Williams, cops said.

He grabbed a 10-inch fishing knife and dragged her onto the third-floor balcony, cops said.

"People were screaming, 'Let her go! Let her go!" said witness Oscar Brinson. "He screamed out, 'You ruined my life!' "

As soon as police showed up, Mendes allegedly stabbed Williams three times in the chest.

One officer fired three times from the street, hitting Mendes in the stomach and hip, cops said.

For the next three hours, hostage negotiators tried to convince Mendes to surrender.

After breaking down the door, the officers gave him a cigarette in exchange for his knife, and he was then quickly taken into custody. He was rushed to Jacobi Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Additional reporting by Jessica Simeone

douglas.montero@nypost.com