A 51-year-old man was found dead — with his neck slashed — on an East Village street early Monday, cops said. 

Patrol officers discovered James Cunningham in a pool of blood on Avenue A near East 13th Street just after 1 a.m. — and rolled him over to find a large cut on his neck, authorities and police sources said.

Cunningham earlier had gone into a nearby bar, drunk a seltzer and left. The bartender said he heard cops outside — and stepped out to see the victim lying dead in the street, according to the sources.

Police believe he was attacked by someone and the incident is being investigated as a homicide. No weapons were found nearby.

Cunningham himself was just arrested 10 days ago and charged with menacing with a knife, the sources said.

He was released on a desk appearance ticket, with his court appearance scheduled for Dec. 28, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. 

The motive for the fatal attack is unclear and cops did not have any information on a suspect later in the morning.