<![CDATA[Tag: East Harlem – NBC New York]]> https://www.nbcnewyork.com Copyright 2023 https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/NY_On_Light@3x-3.png?fit=552%2C120&quality=85&strip=all NBC New York https://www.nbcnewyork.com en_US Tue, 20 Jun 2023 04:45:05 -0400 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 04:45:05 -0400 NBC Owned Television Stations 6-year-old suffers skull fractures after struck by motorbike in East Harlem park: NYPD https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/6-year-old-suffers-skull-fractures-after-struck-by-motorbike-in-east-harlem-park-nypd/4435112/ 4435112 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2023/06/image-10-4.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all A 6-year-old boy was left with a fractured skull after he was struck by a motorbike rider on a walkway during a hit-and-run incident inside a Manhattan park, police said.

The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in East Harlem’s Thomas Jefferson Park, near East 111th Street and First Avenue, according to police. A man was riding the motorized vehicle while on a walkway for pedestrians inside the park when he struck the young boy from behind.

The child, identified by his mother as Henry Diaz, was thrown to the ground and was immediately rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He was diagnosed with a brain bleed and multiple skull fractures before being transferred to the pediatric care unit at NY-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where he was clinging to life as of Monday afternoon.

The boy’s mother, Nereida Marin, said they were celebrating Father’s Day in the park — a place where Henry, who is autistic, likes to go because he can be surrounded by nature. They were leaving when they heard a noise and next thing she knew, her son was down. She said her husband tried to lunge for him and pull the boy out of the way, but missed.

“He wasn’t in time to catch my son,” Marin said.

Marin told NBC New York that her son opened his eyes Monday morning, so she’s hopeful he will survive. But she also said she knows it will be a long road ahead of him — and is worried what happened may have changed her child forever.

“He likes to play with kids, even though they don’t pay attention to him. Calling them friends. He likes to see the plants. He’s a happy child,” she said.

Henry’s 1-year-old brother, who was in a stroller at the time, was not injured.

The driver of the motorbike initially remained at the scene for a few minutes, but took off before officers arrived. The mother said the driver stopped and started at the injured child, but didn’t say a word before he left when he heard sirens.

“I got angry and I feel bad because he’s the one that caused the accident to my son. He was the cause of it and he didn’t ask how my son was doing,” Marin said.

Police are searching for the man who was last seen riding the vehicle north in the park toward East 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue. Many who live in the area and frequent the park said that mopeds and motorbikes are a common issue in the area, and they want more police or park supervision.

No arrests have yet been made. An investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website.

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Mon, Jun 19 2023 11:09:00 AM
Woman found dead in trash compactor room in East Harlem: Police https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/woman-found-dead-in-trash-compactor-room-in-east-harlem-police/4409710/ 4409710 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2023/06/woman-dead-in-trash-compactor.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A woman was found dead and without any clothes on inside a trash compactor room at an East Harlem apartment building, according to police.

The jarring discovery was made by police just before 10 a.m. Friday. Officers responded to the building on East 126th Street and found the woman unconscious and unresponsive in the second-floor room, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were not signs of any injuries, according to police, with no drug paraphernalia found nearby either. Police could not confirm whether the woman, believed to be in her 30s, lived in the building.

The medical examiner will determine a cause of death for the woman, who has not yet been identified. An investigation is ongoing.

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Fri, Jun 09 2023 02:54:00 PM
Two NYPD Officers Struck By SUV in East Harlem: Police https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/two-nypd-officers-struck-by-suv-in-east-harlem-police/4361142/ 4361142 post AFP/Getty Images https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/NBC-NYPD-GENERIC-USEABLE6.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 An SUV struck two NYPD officers in East Harlem in a hit and run incident, according to police.

Around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, police said there was a traffic stop near the corner of East 116th Street and Third Avenue. That’s when the vehicle struck the pair, who were taken to Harlem Hospital.

It wasn’t immediately clear how serious the injuries to the officers were, but both officers are expected to recover, police said.

The suspects inside the vehicle did not stop and took off from the scene. No arrests have yet been made.

An investigation is ongoing.

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Tue, May 23 2023 11:09:00 PM
Man Accused of Murdering Mom of 3 in Manhattan Apartment — While Kids Were Home https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/east-harlem-apartment-murder-man-indicted-for-killing-marisol-duran-in-front-of-children/4314397/ 4314397 post Telemundo 62 https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/POLICE-SIREN-GENERIC.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A 36-year-old man has been indicted for allegedly murdering the mother of his children in her Manhattan apartment — while the kids were home — in a harrowing gun case last month, prosecutors say.

Carmelo Castillo lived with the victim, 32-year-old Marisol Duran, their two children and Duran’s third child by another individual in an East Harlem apartment, court documents say. She recently told Castillo she didn’t want him there anymore, according to prosecutors, and that she wanted him to leave.

It wasn’t clear when that alleged conversation happened, but at some point between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on April 15, while all three children were in the apartment, prosecutors claim Castillo shot Duran with a small-caliber pistol — and tried to muffle the sound with a pillow. He allegedly refused to open up when cops responded to 911 calls.

Castillo also allegedly barricaded the door so the children couldn’t open it for police officers either. After some time, prosecutors say he let his oldest child open the door for cops, who brought him into custody.

He is accused of second-degree murder, a felony, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, misdemeanors. Information on a possible attorney for Castillo wasn’t immediately available.

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Mon, May 08 2023 02:50:31 PM
NYC Mom Shot in Head Trying to Break Up Neighbor's Fight; Shooter on the Run https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-mom-shot-in-head-trying-to-break-up-neighbors-fight-shooter-on-the-run/4121252/ 4121252 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2023/02/suspect_east_harlem.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all A mother is fighting for survival at a Manhattan hospital as the neighbor who shot her during a heated hallway argument continues to evade police.

The armed gunman was still on the run from police Friday, two days after allegedly shooting his 41-year-old neighbor who police say tried to break up a fight on the sixth floor of their East Harlem building.

Neighbors and friends have been in shock since the 8 a.m. shooting at the Lincoln Houses on East 135th Street sent the mother to the hospital in critical condition. Investigators say she was shot in the head, stomach and thigh.

Nicole Williams says she’s been friends with the victim for years and rushed to the building after hearing the news.

“My son lives here. They called me and told me she got shot in the head by a neighbor that just moved here,” Williams said.

Police say the victim stepped out into the hallway Wednesday morning when her neighbor, Avery Dunning, pulled out a firearm and fired at the woman.

“I love her. She’s not a bad person, she was probably trying to do the right thing,” Williams said.

The NYPD released a first look of the alleged gunman late Thursday, identifying the 35-year-old wanted for the morning gun violence.

“We’re seeing guns coming into our community so accessible, that instead of what people would have normally done – have an argument and go back home – that the gun is so accessible, it’s the thing that’s pulled out to resolve the conflict,” said Lesha Sekou, of Street Corner Resources, a neighborhood non-profit working to combat gun violence.

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Fri, Feb 24 2023 10:56:22 AM
Alleged Suspect Behind Deadly NYC Stabbing Spree Before Christmas Indicted for Murder https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/alleged-suspect-behind-deadly-nyc-stabbing-spree-before-christmas-indicted-for-murder/4070539/ 4070539 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/12/Crime-Spree.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 The alleged suspect behind a deadly stabbing spree in December that stretched from the East Village to Harlem was indicted and faces a slew of charges, including two counts of murder.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Thursday that Roland Codrington was charged with second-degree murder for the fatal stabbings of a man outside a bar in the East Village as well as a doctor in a Harlem park. The 35-year-old Codrington also faces charges of attempted murder and assault for a near-fatal double stabbing at a bar in East Harlem, according to Bragg.

On Dec. 19, 51-year-old James Cunningham left a bar around 1 a.m. and bumped into Codrington outside a mini mart on Ave A near 13th Street, police said. A short fight ensued, and Codrington took out a knife and slashed Cunningham in the neck, leaving him bleed, court documents state.

Cunningham later died at the hospital. Police said the two men did not know each other prior to the incident.

Three days later, on Dec. 22, Codrington was at the East Harlem bar Teddy’s, on Second Avenue and East 112th Street, which police said was near his apartment. While there, he allegedly stabbed two men who saw him harass a woman at the bar and tried to stop him. Both victims suffered series injuries, but were expected to recover.

The following day, Codrington walked into Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park and stabbed a doctor more than 30 times, according to court documents. The victim, 60-year-old pediatrician Dr. Bruce Henry, died at the scene.

According to police, the park is where Codrington went to cool off after the bar fight. Just as it was in the first deadly stabbing, police said the two men did not know each other.

Codrington then took the keys to Dr. Henry’s Mercedes-Benz and drove away, prosecutors said. On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, police caught him in the Bronx, where he was found inside the stolen vehicle after a citywide manhunt.

“Roland Codrington allegedly wreaked havoc across the city in a crime spree that left two dead,” said D.A. Bragg. “Manhattanites deserve to live their daily lives without the fear of being attacked. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims.”

Attorney information for Codrington was not immediately available.

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Thu, Jan 26 2023 07:36:00 PM
NYC Man Pleads Guilty in Brutal Hate Crime Stomping Death of Chinese Immigrant https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-man-pleads-guilty-in-brutal-hate-crime-stomping-death-of-chinese-immigrant/4045308/ 4045308 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/AP_22008775354324.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A New York man pleaded guilty Thursday to a hate-crime manslaughter charge for beating a Chinese immigrant who was collecting cans to earn money.

Jarrod Powell, 51, is expected to get a 22-year prison sentence for the 2021 death of Yao Pan Ma. The killing drew national attention as part of a rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in New York City and around the country.

“This unprovoked attack took the life of Yao Pan Ma and took away a sense of security for so many in the AAPI community in New York,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement Thursday.

A message seeking comment was left for Powell’s attorney.

Ma was abruptly attacked from behind, knocked to the ground and kicked and stomped in the head on an East Harlem street on April 23, 2021, authorities said. His attacker fled and left him unconscious; a nearby bus driver flagged down an ambulance.

Ma, 61, suffered a traumatic brain injury and never regained consciousness, as his condition continued to deteriorate over time. He died from his injuries eight months later.

Powell was arrested four days after the assault. In pleading guilty, he acknowledged that he targeted Ma because the victim was Asian, according to Bragg’s office.

Ma’s loved ones approved of the plea agreement, family spokesperson Karlin Chan said.

“While this will not bring back Mr. Yao Pan Ma, it is a significant sentence that we can accept,” Chan said, noting that the plea spares the family the pain of a trial.

Ma and his wife immigrated to the U.S. in October 2018 from China, where Ma was a dim sum chef, according to Chan. He has said Ma and his wife both lost their jobs — his as a kitchen worker, hers as a home care attendant — during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic shutdowns, and the couple then started collecting cans and bottles to return for refunds.

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Thu, Jan 12 2023 09:19:00 PM
NYC Renames Street in Honor of 19-Year-Old Woman Killed at Manhattan Burger King https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/city-renames-street-in-honor-of-teen-cashier-killed-at-manhattan-burger-king/4035271/ 4035271 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2023/01/street-naming.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all A young woman who was gunned down last year while working behind the counter at a Burger King in East Harlem is being honored with a street co-naming.

Kristal Bayron-Nieves was killed one year ago at the fast-food restaurant on 116th Street and Lexington Avenue. That same intersection is being renamed Sunday in honor of the late 19-year-old.

Police had said there were two customers and two employees in the Burger King on Jan. 9, 2022, when Winston Glynn allegedly entered and took money from the cash register.

Glynn had already taken $100 out of the register when he shot Krystal Bayron-Nieves. She didn’t have a key to access additional money he was after, and that’s when police said he fired one round that killed the cashier.

Bayron-Nieves’ family had told reporters she was three weeks into the job and worried for her safety working at night. The teen wanted to switch to a day shift, relatives said.

The man fled, and police used surveillance video in the area to track him to the subway system and from there to Brooklyn. Police said they arrested Glynn, who had worked at that Burger King for several months in 2020, on Thursday in that borough.

There was no indication Glynn knew the teen, as she had only recently started working at the eatery, well after he had left. Family said that Bayron-Nieves was desperately trying to get off the overnight shift at the fast-food joint, because she feared for her safety

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Sun, Jan 08 2023 11:10:17 AM
Man Dies After Being Beaten in Attack by Swarm of ATV, Dirt Bike Riders in East Harlem https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/man-dies-after-being-beaten-in-attack-by-swarm-of-atv-dirt-bike-riders-in-east-harlem/3970487/ 3970487 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/11/Man-Dies-After-Violent-Beating-By-Group-of-ATV-Riders-in-East-Harlem.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A swarm of ATV and motorized dirt bike riders surrounded a man in East Harlem and beat him so badly that he died in a hospital two weeks later, police said Wednesday.

The assault happened at about 10 p.m. on Nov. 4, the NYPD said in a news release. Arthur Cooke, 45, was driving east on 125th Street when his grey car was surrounded by about 30 ATVs and dirt bikes, police said.

One of the riders hit the passenger-side mirror of Cooke’s car, and when Cooke got out to inspect the damage, the ATV and dirt bike riders ganged up to assault him, police said. One of the attackers also pointed a gun at Cooke, they said.

New video obtained by NBC New York shows the group of about 30 people driving by on 125th Street. It was not clear why they ganged up on Cooke, except to cause trouble.

The attackers fled, and another man who was not part of the group drove off in Cooke’s car, police said. Cooke was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he died on Nov. 18. Police have made no arrests, and are searching for the suspects.

Cooke was a court special advocate for Exodus Transitional Community, an organization that assists people who have been incarcerated, according to LinkedIn. Those who knew him said he worked tirelessly to find young people who were facing legal trouble alternatives to jail.

“We were devastated. We are still devastated. I can’t believe it. I don’t know how this could happen to somebody who was so loved in the community. How this could happen in this day and age,” said Exodus Senior Director Carmen Arroyo. “We called Arthur our gentle giant because he was 6’7”, but he was so gentle and loving and caring so for this to happen. Everybody in the community is hurting.”

Of all his titles, friends say Cooke was most proud of the title of father. 

“Just broke my heart. All I think about is his son. He was a very loving father. Very supportive, hands on dad. That was his pride and joy. Now I feel like there’s a hole in the world,” said friend William Steele.

An investigation into the attack, which has been ruled a homicide, is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

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Wed, Nov 23 2022 05:07:00 PM
Rider Threatens to ‘Get My Gun' After Slashing NYC Bus Driver in Exit Spat https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rider-threatens-to-get-my-gun-after-slashing-nyc-bus-driver-in-exit-spat/3890109/ 3890109 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/generic-mta-bus.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A man seemingly angered about having to exit the front of the bus, instead of through the back doors, slashed the driver twice before fleeing the Manhattan stop, authorities said Sunday.

Cops said the violent ordeal unfolded after the suspect and a second rider tried getting off the back of the bus after it stopped in East Harlem at West 135th Street and Broadway around 11 a.m. The pair tried to pry the rear doors open but were unsuccessful.

The riders were forced to exit at the front of the MTA bus where the suspect began arguing with the driver, demanding to know why he wouldn’t open the doors at the back, police said. The argument escalated when police said the suspect spit at the driver, then pulled out a knife and slashed him twice in the arm.

The driver continued trying to get the man off of the bus when NYPD officials said the attacker threatened to “go get my gun.”

Police said suspect was missing a tooth, wearing a black leather jacket with a multi-colored hoodie, black sweats and black sneakers. A canvass of the area after the attack didn’t turn up any leads.

Transported to a nearby hospital, the driver’s condition wasn’t immediately known. The investigation is ongoing.

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Sun, Oct 02 2022 04:53:14 PM
Suspect With Gun Robs East Harlem Deli, Then Shoots Man He's Trying to Rob, Too: NYPD https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/suspect-with-gun-robs-east-harlem-deli-then-shoots-man-hes-trying-to-rob-too-nypd/3877576/ 3877576 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/09/East-Harlem-armed-robbery.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A man with a gun was seen on security video robbing an East Harlem deli, and then just moments later shot a man outside the store who he also tried to stick up, police said.

Surveillance footage showed the masked suspect walk up to the counter of the store on the corner of First Avenue and East 119th Street around 4:30 p.m. Thursday according to police. The man brought a can of Sprite up to the register, and appeared to be reaching into his pocket for money — but instead pulled out a handgun.

After robbing the store and walking out with a fistful of cash, the suspect then tried to rob a man standing outside the front door, police said. In an exchange that also was caught on camera, the two then get into a fight, with the struggle spilling out onto the street and down the block.

Eventually, the worker from inside the deli came running out, video showed, helping chase away the gunman. However, it was not before the man being mugged was shot in the leg, police said.

The victim suffered serious injuries and was taken to Metropolitan Hospital, where he is expected to survive. Police are searching for the suspect, who fled from the scene shortly after pulling the trigger.

An investigation is ongoing.

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Fri, Sep 23 2022 12:12:00 AM
NYC Women Wounded as Gun Violence Strikes Brooklyn, Manhattan at Same Time https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/two-women-hospitalized-after-separate-nyc-shootings-one-which-sparked-school-lockdown/3873703/ 3873703 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/09/East-Harlem-woman-shot.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Two women were hospitalized following separate shootings in Manhattan and Brooklyn, one of which led to a school going into lockdown.

A 26-year-old woman was near the Wagner Houses off First Avenue in East Harlem late Monday afternoon, according to police, when she was shot in her right shoulder. She was not believed to be the intended target of the shooting, police said, and a 25-year-old man was arrested shortly after.

Law enforcement sources said that the 25-year-old suspect was seen firing at another man from a Citi Bike. The victim was taken to Harlem Hospital with serious injuries, but she was expected to survive.

Around the same time, more violence unfolded across the East River in Brooklyn’s Marine Park neighborhood. A 36-year-old mother was shot in the head while with her child just outside JHS 278 on Stuart Avenue.

The mother was critically hurt and was recovering at the hospital. The father of the child she was with was taken into custody after police said that an argument led up to the shooting. However, law enforcement sources said they are investigating whether the incident was a possible suicide attempt.

Because the shooting took place so close to a school, it was forced into a lockdown, leaving parents and students frightened.

“It was kind of scary,” said 11-year-old student Zakaria. “We couldn’t like go anywhere other than the auditorium and we were stuck in there for a few hours.”

Neither the name of the suspected shooter in the East Harlem incident, nor the man possibly involved in the Brooklyn shooting, have been released.

Investigations in both incidents are ongoing.

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Tue, Sep 20 2022 09:02:00 PM
East Harlem Renames Street to Honor Late Actor Cicely Tyson https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/east-harlem-renames-street-to-honor-late-actor-cicely-tyson/3869533/ 3869533 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2021/01/GettyImages-1029688670.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 Cicely Tyson paved the way as the first Black woman to have a recurring role in a dramatic TV series, and now she will be forever remembered at Cicely Tyson Way.

A stretch of 101st Street in East Harlem, between 3rd and Lexington, where the late actor grew up was renamed after her on Saturday. A group of supporters unveiled the street sign with claps and cheers.

“She actually spent time out here. She went to church in Harlem. She was famous,” said Taina Traverso who’s on the street renaming and landmark committee. “She did the work that she did. She was well known, but guess what? She never forgot where she came from.”

Tyson died Jan. 28, 2021, at age 96.

Tyson was known for the groundbreaking 1963 drama “East Side, West Side.” Her performance as a sharecropper’s wife in the 1972 movie “Sounder” cemented her stardom and earned her an Oscar nomination.

She went on to win two Emmy Awards for playing the 110-year-old former slave in the 1974 television drama “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” and another Emmy 20 years later for “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.”

At age 88, Tyson won a Tony Award for the revival of Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful” in 2013. President Barack Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom in 2016.

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Sat, Sep 17 2022 06:39:59 PM
$40,000 Worth of Cocaine Found in Corrections Officer's Manhattan Home: DA https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/40000-worth-of-cocaine-found-in-corrections-officers-manhattan-home-da/3867334/ 3867334 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/cash-generic.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A 47-year-old New York state corrections officer has been accused of dealing cocaine out of his East Harlem apartment and allegedly had $40,000 worth of the drug stashed at the residence, Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday.

Alex Toro, a Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DCCS) corrections officer at the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Dutchess County, was indicted on three felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance.

He allegedly arranged four separate drug buys with an undercover NYPD officer. He’s accused of doing that over the phone and via text messages while at work, and allegedly then had his sister complete the transactions at his apartment, according to the indictment.

Toro himself was present on one occasion to complete the exchange, prosecutors allege. He’s accused of selling 250 grams of cocaine for a total value of $9,500, though prosecutors say a search warrant executed at his home a day ago recovered more than 1,000 grams of cocaine with a total street value of more than $40,000, prosecutors say.

A loaded firearm and ammunition were also recovered, along with nearly $8,000 in cash, prosecutors said.

“Corrections officers are expected to uphold the law, and Mr. Toro’s alleged actions undermine faith in the criminal justice system,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in announcing the indictment Thursday.

Toro is charged with three felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Information on a possible attorney for him wasn’t immediately available.

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Thu, Sep 15 2022 02:53:21 PM
5-Year-Old Girl, Woman and 3 Dogs Killed in Manhattan High-Rise Blaze: Officials https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/5-year-old-girl-among-2-dead-in-manhattan-high-rise-fire/3807370/ 3807370 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/08/east-harlem-fire.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A 5-year-old girl and her dad’s 36-year-old girlfriend, along with three dogs, died when a fire broke out at a high-rise apartment building in Manhattan early Wednesday, authorities say, which was sparked by an e-bike battery.

Authorities responding to a blaze at the NYCHA-owned Jackie Robinson Houses on 129th Street between Lexington and Park avenues around 2:40 a.m. found three people — the 5-year-old, her 46-year-old dad and the girlfriend — hurt in the sixth-floor apartment where the blaze erupted, officials say.

The girl and her father were taken to NYC Health & Hospitals/Harlem, where the child was pronounced dead. Her father was said to be in critical condition. His girlfriend was pronounced dead at another hospital, officials said.

No details on the victims were immediately available. Fire officials say the blaze was contained to their apartment.

The fire was caused by “lithium ion batteries from E-Bikes/Scooters,” according to FDNY fire marshals.

There have been dozens of fires sparked by the batteries used to charge electric bikes and scooters since the conveyances became legal to use on New York City streets in 2020. A 9-year-old boy was killed in a fire in Queens caused by an e-scooter charger on Sept. 1, 2021.

Like Wednesday’s fire, the 2021 fire started at around 2 a.m. Then-fire commissioner Daniel Nigro said at the time that bikes and scooters should never be charged overnight when people are sleeping.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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Wed, Aug 03 2022 10:48:53 AM
Transit Worker Honored for Stepping in to Help During Manhattan Subway Brawl https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mta-worker-honored-for-stepping-in-to-help-during-manhattan-subway-brawl/3800293/ 3800293 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/07/Teen-Accused-in-Subway-Brawl-With-Police.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A transit worker is being praised for his quick actions in stepping in to help an NYPD officer involved in a bloody brawl with a teen inside a Manhattan subway station.

One minute, the worker was repairing a MetroCard machine at the 125th Street and Lexington Avenue station in East Harlem on Saturday — the next, he was grappling with a suspect who was fighting a transit cop. While the video went viral for the 16-year-old suspect’s seemingly fearless aggression toward the cop, the actions of hte worker may not have been as widely noticed.

On Thursday, his colleagues made sure that the worker received credit for his actions. Leaders with the Transit Workers Union Local 100 praised the man (who did not want to be identified, fearing retaliation by the teen) for coming to the defense of a cop struggling to subdue the teen.

“I seen a police officer in a dangerous situation, being held in a chokehold on the ground. So I knew I had to intervene so that’s why I went over to help him out,” the transit worker said.

He said that what he feared most was that the attacking teen, who faces charges including assault on a police officer, could have reached for the officer’s service weapon.

“I was concerned about the safety of the officer and for the safety of the public if he grabbed his weapon,” the worker said.

The wild video that has since gone viral showed the violent confrontation. Police said the officers initially approached the two teens, a boy and a girl, about skipping on their subway fare. The cops told the pair to leave the station, which is when the boy started getting aggressive, according to police.

The video shows the officer and teen fighting, with the officer holding handcuffs before the teenager starts throwing punch after punch at the officer’s head. The officer fights back, before the younger man slams him into a subway gate and then places him into a chokehold on the station floor.

But the man who recorded the video said that an officer was the one who got physical first, saying that “from what I saw and other witnesses saw, the cop did shove him back there.”

Matthew Rue said that the male officer and his partner went over to the two teens initially not because of jumping the turnstile, but rather because they were arguing loudly in the station.

“She’s a female, he’s a guy, they were just making sure she was OK,” Rue said, adding that the officer then tried to physically push the teen girl out of the station.

“He initially calmly asked the cop to apologize,” said Rue of the teen. But things only got more heated from there, and led him to start recording the ensuing tussle that quickly turned into a bloody brawl.

Police experts said that the teen, whose identity is being protected because he is a juvenile, is not exactly a stranger to crime. Sources told NBC New York he was arrested in 2021 for possession of a loaded gun.

Both then and after Saturday’s incident, the teen was released on his own recognizance the following day, which some in law enforcement said is part of the problem.

“Arrested with a gun, he walks out. Fights with a police officer, he walks out. What’s next, does he shoot someone? Kill someone?” asked former NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan, now a contributor for NBC New York.

Monahan blamed Raise the Age legislation that keeps the teen’s cases in family court, not criminal court.

“There has to be some discretion with individuals like this, to see if they should be in much more severe situation,” he said.

The video of the incident prompted Mayor Eric Adams to call for more changes to New York’s bail laws.

“It has to outrage you. Six days ago, he robbed an innocent New Yorker, reportedly. And he was out to assault the police officer,” said Adams.

But the State Assembly Speaker responded, saying the teen’s alleged offenses were eligible for bail. As squabbles over criminal justice reform intensify – Transit Union leaders said they are working on new safety protocols not only for their members

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said that the teen was released after his first offense in 2021 because they view “community monitoring was the appropriate pre-trial determination for a 15-year-old child with no previous reports.”

As squabbles over criminal justice reform intensify, transit union leaders said they are working on new safety protocols not only for their members, “but also for the public to gain trust. Regain the ridership and make sure the subway system is safe. To make sure the subway is safe and efficient and make sure the buses are safe and efficient.”

They also said it was important to recognize their co-worker for bravely stepping in to help a cop, because otherwise, it might have gone unnoticed.

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Thu, Jul 28 2022 10:27:00 PM
Teen Arrested in Killing of 14-Year-Old Saying Bye to His Old NYC Neighborhood https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/teen-arrested-in-shooting-death-of-14-year-old-saying-bye-to-east-harlem-neighborhood/3794221/ 3794221 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/07/East-Harlem-shooting-3.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169

What to Know

  • A teenager has been arrested in the deadly shooting of a 14-year-old boy outside an East Harlem deli who was saying goodbye to his old neighborhood, police said.
  • Justin Streeter was shot in the head just before 4:30 p.m. on July 19 on East 128th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue. He was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he later died, police said.
  • A 15-year-old was also shot, struck in the leg by a bullet as he ran away. He was expected to recover, police said, after a good Samaritan helped with his injuries.

A teenager has been arrested in the deadly shooting of a 14-year-old boy outside an East Harlem deli who was saying goodbye to his old neighborhood, police said.

The 17-year-old faces a slew of charges after he was arrested on Monday, according to police. The unidentified teen was charged with murder, attempted murder and two counts each of assault and criminal use of a firearm.

He turned himself in along with an attorney, police said, but attorney information for the alleged shooter was not immediately available.

Justin Streeter, who had just moved with his family out of the Manhattan neighborhood to Plainfield, New Jersey, was with another teen to get some quick snacks at the deli on East 128th Street, between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. on July 19. A gunman on the street corner opened fire as they left.

Streeter was shot in the head. The other teen, a 15-year-old, was hit in the leg by a bullet as he ran away. He was expected to recover, as is a good Samaritan who police say helped treat his injuries.

Cellphone footage showed cops desperately trying to save Streeter as he lay on the ground wounded. He later died at a hospital, police said.

Seven shell casings were recovered at the scene, according to three police officials. The suspect fled west on 128th Street. at the time

There was no information regarding a potential motive in the shooting, which is believed to have been targeted. It remained unclear what the shooter’s relationship to the Streeter or the other teen was.

A witness told police that they knew Streeter and that the family had just moved to New Jersey. The witness, who did not want to be identified for fear of his safety, said the teen had stopped back in the neighborhood to say final goodbyes.

“They supposedly had moved out to New Jersey to create a new life and get out of the ghetto, and they came to say goodbye to their loved ones and friends. And sure enough, it was the last goodbye,” the witness said.

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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Tue, Jul 26 2022 01:16:00 AM
Brawl Erupts Between NYPD Cops, Teens in Manhattan Over Subway Fare Evasion https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/video-shows-teens-fight-with-nypd-officers-inside-manhattan-subway-station/3794258/ 3794258 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/07/Teen-Accused-in-Subway-Brawl-With-Police.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A Manhattan subway station tussle between NYPD officers and two teens started as a fare evasion incident, but ended in a bloody brawl and arrests, authorities say.

Wild video that has since gone viral showed the violent confrontation at the 125th Street and Lexington Avenue station in East Harlem on Saturday. Police initially approached the two teens, a boy and a girl, about skipping on their subway fare.

The cops told the pair to leave the station, which is when the boy started getting aggressive, police said.

The video shows the officer and teen fighting, with the officer holding handcuffs before the teenager starts throwing punch after punch at the officer’s head. The officer fights back, before the younger man slams him into a subway gate and then places him into a chokehold on the station floor.

But the man who recorded the video said that an officer was the one who got physical first.

“From what I saw and other witnesses saw, the cop did shove him back there,” said Matthew Rue.

He said that the male officer and his partner went over to the two teens initially not because of jumping the turnstile, but rather because they were arguing loudly in the station.

“She’s a female, he’s a guy, they were just making sure she was OK,” Rue said, adding that the officer then tried to physically push the teen girl out of the station.

“He initially calmly asked the cop to apologize,” said Rue of the teen. But things only got more heated from there, and led him to start recording what was unfolding.

“What’s going through my mind is, ‘I hope this kid doesn’t die,” Rue said.

The NYPD says assaults on traffic officers are up 55 percent. Both officers were treated for their injuries and released from the hospital. The two teens were arrested and charged, including with assault on a police officer.

Police experts said that the teen, whose identity is being protected because he is a juvenile, is not exactly a stranger to crime. Sources told NBC New York he was arrested in 2021 for possession of a loaded gun.

Both then and after Saturday’s incident, the teen was released on his own recognizance the following day, which some in law enforcement said is part of the problem.

“Arrested with a gun, he walks out. Fights with a police officer, he walks out. What’s next, does he shoot someone? Kill someone?” asked former NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan, now a contributor for NBC New York.

Monahan blames Raise the Age legislation that keeps the teen’s cases in family court, not criminal court.

“There has to be some discretion with individuals like this, to see if they should be in much more severe situation,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said that the teen was released after his first offense in 2021 because they view “community monitoring was the appropriate pre-trial determination for a 15-year-old child with no previous reports.”

As for the teen’s alleged actions against the officers, the DA’s office said that “violence against our police officers is unacceptable.” The prosecutor’s office said that they agreed to send the case to family court as soon as possible, “where he would receive the age-appropriate interventions and supports he needs while being held accountable.”

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Tue, Jul 26 2022 12:08:00 AM
14-Year-Old Saying Goodbye to Old Harlem Nabe Shot Dead in Broad Daylight: NYPD https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/14-year-old-dies-after-shot-in-head-in-east-harlem-another-teen-hurt-police/3781910/ 3781910 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/07/East-Harlem-shooting-3.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169

What to Know

  • A 14-year-old was shot in the head just before 4:30 p.m. on East 128th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue. He was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he later died, police said.
  • A 15-year-old was also shot, struck in the leg by a bullet as he ran away. He was expected to recover, police said, after a good Samaritan helped with his injuries.
  • The suspect, said to be wearing a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans, fled west on 128th Street, police said. There was no information regarding a potential motive for the shooting, which police believe was targeted.

A 14-year-old New Jersey boy who was shot in the head outside an East Harlem deli while saying goodbye to his old neighborhood has died, police said, while another teen is recovering from injuries he suffered as well.

Justin Streeter, of Plainfield, and the other teen went to get some quick snacks at the deli on East 128th Street, between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. A gunman on the street corner opened fire as they left.

Cellphone footage showed cops desperately trying to save Streeter as he lay on the ground wounded. He later died at a hospital, police said early Wednesday.

The other teen, a 15-year-old, was hit in the leg by a bullet as he ran away. He is expected to recover, as is a good Samaritan who police say helped treat his injuries.

Seven shell casings were recovered at the scene, according to three police officials. The suspect, who was said to be wearing a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans, fled west on 128th Street.

There was no information regarding a potential motive in the shooting, which is believed to have been targeted.

A witness told police that they knew Streeter and that the family had just moved to New Jersey. The witness, who did not want to be identified for fear of his safety, said the teen had stopped back in the neighborhood to say final goodbyes.

“They supposedly had moved out to New Jersey to create a new life and get out of the ghetto, and they came to say goodbye to their loved ones and friends. And sure enough, it was the last goodbye,” the witness said.

An investigation is ongoing. Police are canvassing the area for ballistic and video evidence.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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Wed, Jul 20 2022 03:27:18 AM
2 Teens Shot In East Harlem, Including 14-Year-Old Critically Hurt After Shot in Head https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/two-teens-shot-in-east-harlem-including-14-year-old-struck-in-head-police/3781498/ 3781498 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/07/East-Harlem-shooting.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Two teenagers were shot in East Harlem, leaving one of them critically injured after being struck in the head as bullets flew in broad daylight, according to police.

The shooting occurred just before 4:30 p.m. on East 128th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue, as the teens went to a deli for a few moments to buy snacks, police said. As they were leaving, the gunman was at the street corner and fired at them.

The 14-year-old boy was shot in the head, and cellphone video showed police desperately trying to save him as he laid on the ground. The teen was taken to Harlem Hospital where he was said to be in critical condition, according to police. A 15-year-old boy was also shot, struck in the leg by a bullet as he ran away. He was expected to recover, police said, after a good Samaritan helped with his injuries.

Seven shell casings were recovered at the scene, according to three police officials. The suspect, who was said to be wearing a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans who fled west on 128th Street.

There was no information regarding a potential motive in the shooting, which is believed to have been targeted. A witness told police that they knew the 14-year-old, and that the family had just moved to New Jersey. The witness, who did not want to be identified for fear of his safety, said the teen had stopped back in the neighborhood to say final goodbyes.

An investigation is ongoing. Police are canvassing for ballistic and video evidence from the area. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to come forward.

Correction: Police previously said that the 14-year-old victim had been killed. This story has been corrected to state that the 14-year-old is in critical condition.

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Tue, Jul 19 2022 05:50:00 PM
Good Samaritan Shoved to Subway Tracks After Trying to Stop Fight: NYPD https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-pushed-to-subway-tracks-after-trying-to-stop-platform-fight-nypd/3750141/ 3750141 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2019/09/GettyImages-56470770.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 A man found himself knocked down to the tracks of a New York City subway station after trying to intervene in a fight Saturday, police said.

The 64-year-old moved to step in at the 125th Street Station in East Harlem, approaching the group on the northbound 6 train platform, the NYPD said Sunday.

Instead, the man found himself shoved down to the tracks where he suffered a leg laceration before making it to safety.

A 38-year-old suspect has been taken into custody on charges of reckless endangerment, harassment and assault.

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Sun, Jun 26 2022 03:54:13 PM
Baby Found Safe After NYC Carjackers Take 1-Year-Old From Dad: Cops https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-carjackers-steal-vehicle-with-1-year-old-baby-inside-cops/3741309/ 3741309 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/04/POLICE-LIGHTS-1.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A baby missing for several hours Monday morning has been found safely in the care of family after carjackers stole a father’s vehicle with the 1-year-old boy still inside, authorities say.

Police were looking for two suspects believed to have stolen a vehicle near East 117th Street and First Avenue around 6 a.m., the NYPD said. The carjackers allegedly threatened to shoot the car owner.

The carjackers took off from the East Harlem intersection with the vehicle and their victim’s toddler riding inside.

Around 10 a.m., the department announced that the missing Honda Accord had been located and the child was found safely and no longer in danger.

It wasn’t immediately clear if officials were still looking for two suspects in connection to the carjacking and kidnapping.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

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Mon, Jun 20 2022 10:09:57 AM
They Might Be Giants Singer-Guitarist John Flansburgh Injured in NYC Car Crash https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/they-might-be-giants-singer-guitarist-john-flansburgh-injured-in-nyc-car-crash/3729989/ 3729989 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/06/GettyImages-1046711148.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,200 They Might Be Giants singer-guitarist John Flansburgh was seriously injured in a car crash this week while being driven home from the alternative rock band’s first gig on a pandemic-delayed tour, prompting the postponement of shows at least until late August.

Meanwhile, the driver of the car that police said instigated the wreck was awaiting arraignment Friday after being arrested on drunken driving and other charges.

The collision happened early Thursday in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood.

Writing from a hospital bed, Flansburgh told fans he was taking a car service home from Wednesday’s show at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom when the car was T-boned, flipped onto its side, and started smelling of motor oil and smoke.

According to police, the driver who was arrested ran a red light, jumped a curb and plowed into the gate of a housing complex, hitting two cars along the way.

It’s not immediately clear whether the 26-year-old driver has an attorney who can comment on the charges, and no telephone number could immediately be found for his Bronx home.

Everyone in all three cars were taken to hospitals, police said. Flansburgh, 62, wrote that he suffered seven broken ribs, some of them fractured in multiple places.

Formed in the early 1980s by Flansburgh and John Linnell, They Might Be Giants rose to fame with clever, catchy songs and a not-afraid-to-be-geeky persona. Known for tunes including “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” “Boss of Me” and a version of the quirky 1953 tune “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” the duo went platinum with the 1990 album “Flood.” The new tour is a belated celebration of the disc’s 30th anniversary.

“It was so wonderful to finally be back up on stage and playing for all of you again,” Lindell wrote to fans in a message announcing that the remaining June dates are postponed. The band hopes to resume the tour Aug. 30 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, he said.

Flansburgh wrote that even as he sat in a CT scanner shortly after the accident, he was thinking about how to get back on the road.

“Someday we will rock again — and for me, that day couldn’t come soon enough,” he wrote. But for now, “I will be watching reruns of ‘Sex in the City’ until I am strong enough to reach the remote.

“Wish me luck,” he added. “I’m going to need it.”

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Fri, Jun 10 2022 07:51:56 PM
Audi Driver Wanted for NYC Hit-And-Run With Teen Riding Scooter: Cops https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/audi-driver-wanted-for-nyc-hit-and-run-with-teen-riding-scooter-cops/3659766/ 3659766 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/04/manhattan-hit-and-rin.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Police in New York City were on the hunt Saturday for the driver responsible for sending a teen to the hospital and fleeing the scene of a crash.

Emergency officials responded to the hit-and-run reported around 1:30 p.m. at 113th Street and 2nd Avenue in East Harlem.

Authorities said a gray Audi struck a 13-year-old boy who was riding a scooter in the area. The driver took off, heading over the 3rd Avenue bridge, according to the NYPD.

Police said the injured teen was taken to a nearby hospital for a minor leg injury.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Sat, Apr 23 2022 04:05:30 PM
Woman, 86, Suffers Severe Head Injury After Being Hit By E-Scooter on NYC Street: Cops https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/woman-86-suffers-severe-head-injury-after-being-hit-by-scooter-while-crossing-nyc-street/3627857/ 3627857 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/04/Elderly-Woman-Struck-By-Scooter-MN.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 An 86-year-old woman is fighting for her life after having been struck by an electric scooter in Manhattan on Friday — an impact that left her with head trauma.

Police say they received a 911 call shortly before 5 p.m. and when they responded to the scene near the intersection of East 104 Street and Third Avenue, they found the woman lying on the ground with head trauma.

According to police, a preliminary investigation determined that a 35-year-old woman operating a stand-up electric scooter allegedly struck the pedestrian who was walking southbound on Third Avenue attempting to cross East 104 Street.

EMS responded and took the pedestrian to Metropolitan Hospital in critical condition with head trauma. Due to the severity of the injury, she was later transported to Bellevue Hospital for further treatment, police said.

The 35-year-old motorist remained on scene and no arrests have taken place at this time since the incident appears to not have been criminal in nature.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Sat, Apr 02 2022 03:55:57 PM
Man Arrested in Box Cutter Attack That Put NYC McDonald's Worker in Coma https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/cops-arrest-man-who-allegedly-put-nyc-mcds-worker-in-coma-after-box-cutter-attack/3599059/ 3599059 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/03/mcdonalds-suspect.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Police arrested the man wanted in a brutal attack that left a McDonald’s worker in a coma, fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest, neck and arm as he tried to break up a dispute.

Cops arrested 28-year-old Ezekiel Dunn-Jennings late Monday on attempted murder charges. The department previously identified the Manhattan man as the suspect who took a box cutter to an employee in East Harlem early Wednesday.

The suspect entered the fast-food joint on Third Avenue and East 117th Street and attempted to place an order with a cashier, before going to a kiosk to place the order, according to a senior NYPD official with direct knowledge of the incident. Shortly after, he went back to the counter where he appeared to start arguing with the cashier.

Police said the victim heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen with a stick.

He was attacked with a box cutter, leaving a gruesome crime scene that spread from behind the counter all the way to the lobby. The victim was stabbed numerous times, a senior NYPD official said.

mcdonald's stabbing
It was a gruesome scene.

A husband of an employee who rushed to the scene, fearing his wife was in danger, told News 4 he thought the argument involved an unruly customer, but police say that element of the case remains under investigation at this time.

The victim’s sister, who came to the McDonald’s to collect his things, said he’s in a coma so she hasn’t been able to speak to him — but she said he’s expressed concern about working those late-night hours. She also confirmed their mother was en route to the city from the Dominican Republic to help as she can.

McDonald’s released a statement last Wednesday saying it was “shocked and dismayed by this senseless and unprovoked attack on one of our employees.”

“The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. We will continue cooperating with the NYPD and supporting our colleague and friend as they recover,” the statement from owner/operator Bruce Colley said.

The bloody stabbing at the McDonald’s happened just a few blocks from where a 19-year-old Burger King cashier was shot and killed, allegedly by a former worker at the restaurant, during a robbery attempt earlier this year.

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Tue, Mar 15 2022 05:45:11 AM
Cops ID Man Who Allegedly Put NYC McDonald's Worker in Coma After Box Cutter Attack https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/cops-id-man-who-put-nyc-mcdonalds-worker-in-coma-after-box-cutter-attack-ny-only/3595897/ 3595897 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/03/mcdonalds-suspect.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Police released the first look of the man wanted in a brutal attack that left a McDonald’s worker in a coma, fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest, neck and arm as he tried to break up a dispute.

New video released by the NYPD shows 28-year-old Ezekiel Dunn. The department identified the Manhattan man as the suspect who took a box cutter to an employee in East Harlem early Wednesday.

The suspect entered the fast-food joint on Third Avenue and East 117th Street around 12:45 a.m. and attempted to place an order with a cashier, before going to a kiosk to place the order, according to a senior NYPD official with direct knowledge of the incident. Shortly after, he went back to the counter where he appeared to start arguing with the cashier.

Police said the victim heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen with a stick.

He was attacked with a box cutter, leaving a gruesome crime scene that spread from behind the counter all the way to the lobby. The victim was stabbed numerous times, a senior NYPD official said.

The suspect was last seen wearing a ski mask as he ran west on 117th Street. No arrests have been made.

mcdonald's stabbing
It was a gruesome scene.

A husband of an employee who rushed to the scene, fearing his wife was in danger, told News 4 he thought the argument involved an unruly customer, but police say that element of the case remains under investigation at this time.

The victim’s sister, who was at the McDonald’s Wednesday to collect his things, said he’s in a coma so she hasn’t been able to speak to him — but she said he’s expressed concern about working those late-night hours. She also confirmed their mother was en route to the city from the Dominican Republic to help as she can.

McDonald’s released a statement Wednesday saying it was “shocked and dismayed by this senseless and unprovoked attack on one of our employees.”

“The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. We will continue cooperating with the NYPD and supporting our colleague and friend as they recover,” the statement from owner/operator Bruce Colley said.

The bloody stabbing at the McDonald’s happened just a few blocks from where a 19-year-old Burger King cashier was shot and killed, allegedly by a former worker at the restaurant, during a robbery attempt earlier this year.

Anyone with information on the McDonald’s case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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Sat, Mar 12 2022 10:10:30 AM
Man Still On the Run After Stabbing Father in Car in East Harlem: Police https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/man-still-on-the-run-after-stabbing-father-in-car-in-east-harlem-police/3595582/ 3595582 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/03/Man-Wanted-for-Stabbing-His-Father-in-East-Harlem.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A man was seen on surveillance video allegedly stab his own father inside of a parked car in East Harlem Friday afternoon, and was still on the run from police hours later.

In video exclusively obtained by NBC New York, a car is seen parked along East 116th Street, with a passenger seen getting out, closing his door and walking away. Moments later, a large crowd gathered outside, as police soon after roped off the crime scene.

Police said that the 65-year-old victim was stabbed, with an ambulance rushing him to the hospital. The unidentified victim was listed in critical condition.

The suspect is the man’s 44-year-old son, according to police. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

The latest violent incident in the neighborhood took place not far from where a McDonald’s employee was repeatedly slashed by a suspect armed with a box cutter on Wednesday, and is only blocks away from where a Burger King worker was killed during an attempted robbery in January.

An investigation into the latest violent episode is ongoing.

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Thu, Mar 10 2022 08:30:17 PM
NYC McDonald's Worker Stabbed Multiple Times Trying to Defend Coworkers: Cops https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mcdonalds-worker-stabbed-multiple-times-leaving-gruesome-scene-in-manhattan/3590130/ 3590130 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/03/mcdonalds-stabbing.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A 31-year-old McDonald’s worker in East Harlem is fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest, neck and arm as he tried to break up some sort of dispute involving his fellow employees and a man early Wednesday, cops say.

A man entered the fast-food joint on Third Avenue and East 117th Street around 12:45 a.m. and attempted to place an order with a cashier, before going to a kiosk to place the order, according to a senior NYPD official with direct knowledge of the incident. Shortly after, he went back to the counter where he appeared to start arguing with the cashier.

Police said the victim heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen with a stick.

He was attacked with a box cutter, leaving a gruesome crime scene that spread from behind the counter all the way to the lobby. The victim was stabbed numerous times, a senior NYPD official said.

The suspect was last seen wearing a ski mask as he ran west on 117th Street. No arrests have been made.

A husband of an employee who rushed to the scene, fearing his wife was in danger, told News 4 he thought the argument involved an unruly customer, but police say that element of the case remains under investigation at this time.

The victim’s sister, who was at the McDonald’s Wednesday to collect his things, says he’s in a coma so she hasn’t been able to speak to him — but she said he’s expressed concern about working those late-night hours. She also confirmed their mother was en route to the city from the Dominican Republic to help as she can.

McDonald’s released a statement Wednesday saying it was “shocked and dismayed by this senseless and unprovoked attack on one of our employees.”

“The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. We will continue cooperating with the NYPD and supporting our colleague and friend as they recover,” the statement from owner/operator Bruce Colley said.

The bloody stabbing at the McDonald’s happened just a few blocks from where a 19-year-old Burger King cashier was shot and killed, allegedly by a former worker at the restaurant, during a robbery attempt earlier this year.

Anyone with information on the McDonald’s case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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Wed, Mar 09 2022 06:29:35 AM
Cousin Charged With Murder of NYC Mother Found in Plastic Bin on Sidewalk: Police https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/cousin-charged-with-murder-of-nyc-mother-found-in-plastic-bin-on-sidewalk-police/3574011/ 3574011 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/02/Body-in-Storage-Bin-Identified-as-Missing-East-Harlem-Woman.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Authorities charged a 21-year-old man with murder for the death of Nisaa Walcott, the 35-year-old mother dumped in a plastic storage container on a sidewalk in the Bronx.

Walcott’s cousin, Khalid Barrow, was arrested and charged with murder Saturday after investigators connected the Bronx man to her death through surveillance video from her apartment building and near the site where he allegedly dumped her, law enforcement sources said.

Police located the missing mother Friday afternoon when the storage bin was located across the street from 950 University Avenue, in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.

A man who frequents the location to find things he’s able to resell was the person who made the gruesome discovery after spotting a leg. The bin with the body didn’t appear to be connected to the storage facility, a source said.

Detectives believe the cousin used Walcott’s cell phone to throw off family members concerned about her whereabouts after she hadn’t been seen for days, two senior NYPD officials said. But text messages allegedly sent from the phone weren’t consistent with previous conversations.

The officials also said video reviewed by detectives appear to show the cousin at Walcott’s East Harlem building, removing a large, plastic container around 12 a.m. Friday. A second individual can be seen on the video helping transport the container and unload it at the Bronx address where Walcott was found, the senior officials said.

Friends of the East Harlem woman were devastated to learn of what happened to Walcott, who leaves behind a teenaged son.

“She was a beautiful person, hard worker, she was a single mother, she was an entrepreneur she worked hard and she didn’t deserve this,” Walcott’s friend, Luz Droz, said.

Candles placed outside her apartment are part of a growing memorial for the mother as devastated family and friends grapple with the loss of the 35-year-old.

“The way she died did not represent who she was as a person,” her friend, Delia Soto, said. “She’s full of life, full of everything that makes people happy. She sees you sad, she smiles with you.”

The investigation is still active and no cause of death has been determined at this point.

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Sun, Feb 27 2022 11:28:03 AM
Police Question Cousin in Body Found in Plastic Bin on NYC Sidewalk: Sources https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/body-found-in-plastic-bin-on-nyc-sidewalk-identified-as-missing-east-harlem-woman/3573388/ 3573388 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/02/Body-in-Storage-Bin-Identified-as-Missing-East-Harlem-Woman.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 Investigators have identified the body found in a storage container left on a Bronx sidewalk as an East Harlem woman reported missing earlier this week, and the person of interest in the death investigation is a cousin of the victim, two senior NYPD officials said Saturday.

Charges against the cousin were pending Saturday as officials awaited autopsy results for Nisaa Walcott, the 35-year-old mother found Friday afternoon inside a plastic container. Police said the bin was left across the street from 950 University Avenue, in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.

Detectives believe the cousin used Walcott’s cell phone to throw off family members concerned about her whereabouts after she hadn’t been seen for days, the senior officials said. But text messages allegedly sent from the phone weren’t consistent with previous conversations.

The officials also said video reviewed by detectives appear to show the cousin at Walcott’s East Harlem building, removing a large, plastic container around 12 a.m. Friday. A second individual can be seen on the video helping transport the container and unload it at the Bronx address where Walcott was found, the senior officials said.

The scene is where a storage facility offloads unwanted items, according to a police source.

Friends of the East Harlem woman were devastated to learn of what happened to Walcott, who leaves behind a teenaged son.

“She was a beautiful person, hard worker, she was a single mother, she was an entrepreneur she worked hard and she didn’t deserve this,” Walcott’s friend, Luz Droz, said.

A man who frequents the location to find things he’s able to resell was the person who made the gruesome discovery after spotting a leg. The bin with the body didn’t appear to be connected to the storage facility, a source said.

The investigation is still active and no cause of death has been determined at this point.

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Sat, Feb 26 2022 10:33:14 AM
NYC Grand Larceny Suspect in Wind After Stealing Car With Child Inside: Official https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-grand-larceny-suspect-in-wind-after-stealing-car-with-child-inside-official/3564495/ 3564495 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/02/Car-Stolen-With-Child-Inside-MN-2.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all

What to Know

  • The NYPD is searching for a man they say stole an SUV from East Harlem with an 11-year-old inside, before dropping the child off and on a street corner in a Bronx neighborhood and making his getaway.
  • The NYPD dispatched units in East Harlem after a report came in around 8 p.m. for a stolen vehicle with a child inside the car at the time. The incident happened around E 121st Street and 3rd Avenue, the official said.
  • Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Police across New York City are after a suspect wanted in connection to a carjacking Sunday that saw the brief kidnapping of an 11-year-old boy, a senior NYPD official confirmed Monday.

The NYPD dispatched units in East Harlem after a report came in around 8 p.m. for a stolen vehicle with a child inside the car at the time. The incident happened around E 121st Street and 3rd Avenue, the official said.

According to police, on Sunday, shortly before 8 p.m., a 36-year-old man went inside the City Fresh Market on 3 Avenue and left his 2017 Orange Nissan Rogue 4-door SUV running with his 11-year-old son in the front passenger seat. It was at this point that an unknown man got inside the vehicle and drove along 3 Avenue before letting the child off at the corner of Bolton and Lafayette streets in the Soundview neighborhood around 20 minutes later.

Officers immediately began a search for the vehicle and 11-year-old, eventually finding the latter unharmed on a sidewalk near Lafayette Boulevard and Bolton Avenue in the Bronx. He was reunited with his father.

Subsequently, at around 9:30 p.m., the alleged suspect of the car theft was later observed inside the BP gas station located at 241-15 Hillside Avenue, removing a cell phone charger without paying and fleeing the scene in an unknown direction.

According to police, the day following the incident, the child stated while inside the vehicle the unknown man side swiped two parked cars but did not know the location. The child sustained minor neck pain and was taken to NYC Health & Hospitals/Harlem, where he was treated and released, police said.

The department conducted a citywide canvas for the suspect but has turned up no information that has led to his location or identification, the official said.

Police describe the suspect as a man, 5’7″ in height and weighing 150 lbs., with a full beard and short, dark hair. He last seen wearing dark colored pants, a multi-colored jacket, dark colored baseball cap, a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and sneakers.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

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Mon, Feb 21 2022 11:49:59 AM
Hate Crime Murder Charges in Brutal Death of Asian Man Head Stomped in NYC https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/hate-crime-murder-charges-in-brutal-death-of-asian-man-head-stomped-in-nyc/3546523/ 3546523 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/AP_22008775354324.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A New York City man will face hate crime murder charges in the death of a Chinese immigrant who was brutally attacked in April 2021 while collecting cans in East Harlem and died of his injuries eight months later.

Yao Pan Ma, 61, died Dec. 31, police said. The attack drew national attention as part of a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York and around the country. Jarrod Powell, 50, of New York City, was previously charged with attempted murder, felony assault and hate crimes in the case.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Thursday those charges have now been upgraded to 2nd-degree murder as a hate crime.

“As alleged, Jarrod Powell selectively attacked Mr. Ma for no other reason than his race,” DA Alvin Bragg said in a statement. “Tragically, our Office is currently prosecuting 33 hate crime cases driven by anti-Asian bias – unfortunately, the most we have had since our Hate Crimes Unit was established in 2010.”

Powell attacked Ma from behind, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly kicking his head before fleeing the scene, prosecutors say. Surveillance video released by the police appears to show an attacker stomping on Ma’s head.

A family representative told The Associated Press that Ma never regained consciousness after the attack and his condition continued to deteriorate over time. Ma was moved in and out of multiple facilities during the past eight months, ultimately dying in a long-term care center run by The New Jewish Home.

Ma and his wife immigrated to the United States in October 2018 from China, where Ma was a dim sum chef. After arriving here, Ma obtained work as a general kitchen worker at a Chinese restaurant, making pastries and performing other kitchen tasks. However, when the pandemic hit, Ma lost his job when the restaurant closed during lockdown.

That prompted Ma and his wife, who also lost her job as a home health care attendant, to collect returnable bottles and cans to generate extra money for food, the representative said.

How to Help

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Thu, Feb 10 2022 01:55:15 PM
NYC Bus Carrying Dozens of Passengers Hit by Gunfire in Harlem https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-bus-carrying-dozens-of-passengers-hit-by-gunfire-in-harlem/3537701/ 3537701 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/02/mta-bus-shooting.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all A bus carrying several dozen passengers through Harlem in the middle of the day was struck by gunfire, police and transit officials said Sunday.

MTA officials estimated 30 people were on board the M101 bus in the vicinity of East 124th Street and Lexington Avenue when at least one bullet hit the bus. The shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. Video obtained by police showed a man pulling out his gun before firing at another with no regard for bystanders.

A vehicle that stopped at the red light on Lexington Avenue was also struck with a projectile consistent with a bullet, two senior NYPD officials told NBC New York.

Twelve 9mm shell casings were recovered from the scene along with two spent projectiles, one from the MTA bus and one from a civilian vehicle, the sources said.

Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of any injuries among the passengers, the driver of the bus or other witnesses.

The union representing city bus drivers released a statement noting Sunday’s shooting was the fourth instance in at least six months of gunfire hitting an MTA bus.

“In today’s incident, a bullet struck the right side of an M101 bus in the area behind the front door. It could have killed a woman sitting right there, or the Bus Operator, who is understandably very shaken up and traumatized,” Richie Davis, TWU Local 100 vice president and chief of staff, said.

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Sun, Feb 06 2022 06:28:11 PM
Former Employee Charged in Killing of Teen Cashier at Manhattan Burger King https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/arrest-made-in-killing-of-teen-employee-during-robbery-at-manhattan-burger-king-sources/3495765/ 3495765 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/Suspect-Accused-of-Killing-Teen-in-Burger-King-Robbery-Appears-in-Court.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 The man suspected of killing a 19-year-old employee during a robbery at a Manhattan Burger King, where he worked for most of 2020, has been arrested and charged with murder, police announced Friday.

The suspect was arrested in Brooklyn late Thursday, according to law enforcement officials. Top NYPD officials identified their suspect as 30-year-old Winston Glynn, who was tracked down days after the violent murder after extensive video canvassing of the scene before and after the shooting.

Glynn faces charges of murder, robbery, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon. He’s got prior arrests in the city, including menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and assault, police said. Glynn, who was represented by Legal Aid attorney Eric Williams, did not enter a plea.

Glynn did not remain silent as he faced a Manhattan judge Friday evening, as his first court appearance featured unprovoked outbursts, as he spontaneously shouted “liar” several times.

Prior to the unhinged moments in the courtroom, Glynn shouted profanities and made unintelligible comments as he was being walked in handcuffs out of the precinct by police.

Clothing worn the day of the crime was seen in his social media posts and witnesses helped identify him, too, senior NYPD officials said. Ear buds were also instrumental in helping police catch their prime suspect.

Video reviewed by police that allegedly showed Glynn wearing different clothing prior to the shooting help, among other evidence, tell police he planned the robbery ahead of time. Dangling earbuds seen in surveillance video, along with clothing that matched pictures he posted on social media, helped track Glynn to Brooklyn address, where he was arrested Thursday night.

“He knew this place well, he preplanned the event,” officials said Friday. They also revealed the 30-year-old to be a former employee of the Harlem location. Police said the alleged killer worked at the Burger King between April and Dec. of 2020, but did not appear to know the victim.

Police said Glynn had already taken $100 out of the register when he shot 19-year-old Krystal Bayron-Nieves. She didn’t have a key to access additional money he was after, and that’s when police said he fired one round that killed the cashier.

Mayor Eric Adams made a comment at the NYPD press conference, saying this particular case was personal.

“I don’t come to press conferences of arrests. But this one was so personal, for a cold-blooded killer to shoot a 19-year-old child,” Adams said.

The family of Bayron-Nieves was made aware of the arrest after a night of prayer and emotions at a candlelight vigil and told NBC New York that at least they now have some justice for their loved one’s killing.

“My family is actually excited that they caught (the suspect). That could’ve been anybody’s child,” said Shiming Nieves, a cousin of the victim’s. “That’s not gonna bring her back or anything, but a little bit of relief and little by little we’re gonna be picking up the pieces, to get our family strong again.

Cops have said an armed assailant walked into the franchise on East 116th Street in East Harlem around 12:45 a.m., flashing his gun and demanding money from employees. He pistol-whipped a manager and customer who were inside at the time and fired one bullet, striking Bayron-Nieves in the torso, before running off.

There was no indication Glynn knew the teen, as she had only recently started working at the eatery, well after he had left. Family said that Bayron-Nieves was desperately trying to get off the overnight shift at the fast-food joint, because she feared for her safety.

The young woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Bayron-Nieves, who is said to have lived just a few blocks from the Burger King, had just started working there in the last few weeks.

Some $20,000 in rewards was being offered for information in the case. The NYPD announced a $10,000 reward Wednesday, three days after Bayron-Nieves was shot and killed. Grocery magnate John Catsimatidis offered another $10,000.

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Fri, Jan 14 2022 12:43:22 AM
$20K Reward Offered in Case of NYC Burger King Cashier Shot Dead by Armed Robber https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/burger-king-shooting-east-harlem-kristal-bayron-nieves/3492617/ 3492617 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/east-harlem-burger-king-worker-death.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Some $20,000 in rewards are being offered for information in the case of a 19-year-old cashier who was shot and killed at the Manhattan Burger King where she worked this past weekend, while an outraged community is demanding justice.

The NYPD announced a $10,000 reward on Wednesday, three days after Kristal Bayron-Nieves was shot in the torso at the fast-food restaurant on East 116th Street in East Harlem. Bayron-Nieves was taken to a hospital. Grocery magnate John Catsimatidis is offering another $10,000.

Cops have said an armed assailant walked into the franchise around 12:45 a.m., flashing his gun and demanding money from employees. He pistol-whipped a manager and customer who were inside at the time and fired one bullet, hitting Bayron-Nieves, before running off.

The young woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police released a brief surveillance clip appearing to show the fully masked suspect pointing his firearm at one of the workers earlier this week. The gunman was dressed in head-to-toe black with few discernable distinguishing features.

He was also wearing gloves.

Bayron-Nieves, who is said to have lived just a few blocks from the Burger King, had just started working there in the last few weeks.

One regular at the location, Philip Legrand, told News 4 he stopped by hours after the shooting and left a candle outside for the young woman.

“I got the white candle because it represents peace. She didn’t deserve what she got,” Legrand said. “We just need to do something about the violence that’s going on right now, we really do.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

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Wed, Jan 12 2022 01:02:02 PM
19-Year-Old Working at NYC Burger King Shot and Killed by Armed Robber: Police https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/19-year-old-working-at-nyc-burger-king-shot-and-killed-by-armed-robber-police/3486740/ 3486740 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/burger-king-shooter.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all A 19-year-old cashier working at a Burger King was shot and killed during an attempted robbery overnight in East Harlem, police said Sunday.

The NYPD said officers rushed to the fast food establishment around 12:45 a.m. for reports of a man with a gun and an employee shot inside the Burger King on East 116th Street.

Kristal Bayron-Nieves was found with a gunshot wound to her torso and was transported to Metropolitan Hospital where officials pronounced her dead.

Police said the armed assailant entered the Burger King brandishing his gun and demanding money from its employees. During that exchange the unidentified man fired the bullet that struck Bayron-Nieves and pistol-whipped a manager and customer also inside at the time, before fleeing.

A short, 10-second surveillance clip appearing to show the suspect pointing his firearm at one of the workers was released shortly before noon. The gunman is dressed in head-to-toe black with few discernable features.

An employee told News 4 New York the investigators obtained the store’s surveillance video but the suspect was fully masked and wearing gloves during the incident.

The 19-year-old, who reportedly lives a few blocks away, had just started working at the Burger King in recent weeks.

Phillip Legrand says he’s a regular at the fast food location stopped by Sunday morning to leave a candle outside the front door after hearing the tragic news.

“I got the white candle because it represents peace. She didn’t deserve what she got,” Legrand said. “We just need to do something about the violence that’s going on right now, we really do.”

The investigation is ongoing.

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Sun, Jan 09 2022 09:25:39 AM
61-Year-Old Asian Man Head Stomped in Brutal NYC Attack Dies 8 Months Later https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/61-year-old-asian-man-head-stomped-in-brutal-nyc-attack-dies-8-months-later/3486154/ 3486154 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/AP_22008775354324.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&fit=300,169 A Chinese immigrant who was brutally attacked in April while collecting cans in East Harlem has died of his injuries, and his case is now deemed a homicide, New York City police said Saturday.

Yao Pan Ma, 61, died Dec. 31, police said. The attack drew national attention as part of a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York and around the country. Jarrod Powell, 49, of New York City, was previously charged with attempted murder, felony assault and hate crime charges in the case, which remains under investigation.

A family representative said the charges against Powell should now be enhanced.

“We’re calling on the District Attorney’s Office to upgrade the charges to murder now,” Karlin Chan, a community activist in New York City and a spokesman for Ma’s family, told The Associated Press. “We’re fighting for justice and I hope (Powell) never walks the streets as a free man. He needs to pay for what he did.”

The Legal Aid Society, which previously represented Powell, said he is no longer a client. A message was left seeking comment with another attorney listed in court records as Powell’s lawyer.

Powell attacked Ma from behind, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly kicking his head before fleeing the scene, prosecutors say. Surveillance video released by the police appears to show an attacker stomping on Ma’s head.

Chan said Ma never regained consciousness after the attack and his condition continued to deteriorate over time. Ma was moved in and out of multiple facilities during the past eight months, ultimately dying in a long-term care center run by The New Jewish Home, Chan said.

A funeral is being planned for sometime next week.

A police detective said in a criminal complaint that Powell admitted to attacking an Asian man at the approximate time and location of the attack on Ma, stating he did so because the man had robbed him the day before.

Chan, however, said the men had never met before.

Ma and his wife- – who Chan said is “devastated” by what happened to her husband — immigrated to the U.S. in October 2018 from China, where Ma was a dim sum chef. After arriving in the U.S., Ma obtained work as a general kitchen worker at a Chinese restaurant, making pastries and performing other kitchen tasks. However, when the pandemic hit, Ma lost his job when the restaurant closed during lockdown. He hadn’t worked long enough to qualify for unemployment benefits, Chan said.

That prompted Ma and his wife, who also lost her job as a home health care attendant, to collect returnable bottles and cans to generate extra money for food, Chan said.

“They were recent immigrants,” he said. “They really didn’t have any savings.”

The couple have two adult children, a son and daughter, who still live in China. Prior to the pandemic, Chan said the couple lost their Chinatown apartment in December 2019 to fire and had to move in with relatives.

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Sat, Jan 08 2022 10:24:19 AM
Officer Sleeping in Car Between Shifts Shot in Head at Harlem Precinct: NYPD https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/officer-sleeping-in-car-between-shifts-shot-in-head-at-harlem-precinct-nypd/3475046/ 3475046 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2022/01/harlem-shooting-window.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all An off-duty officer resting between weekend shifts was shot while sleeping inside his car at a police precinct in East Harlem, police and city officials said Saturday.

The officer woke around 6:15 a.m. when a bullet broke through one of the car windows and struck the officer in the head, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said outside NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital that afternoon.

An on-duty sergeant found the officer after he exited the car, bleeding from a gunshot wound. The injured officer received aid and was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Doctors confirmed the officer suffered a fractured skull.

Sewell said the officer had concluded an 8-hour shift around 2:30 a.m. at Central Park, where he was covering a New Year’s Eve event, before returning to the precinct. She said the officer chose to rest in his personal vehicle at the 25th Precinct before starting his next shift at 7 a.m.

Hours later, investigators were still working to determine who fired the bullet and if the officer was the intended target. The commissioner said there were no other 911 calls for gunfire in the area at the time of the shooting, and no other officers heard anything.

“We are grateful that our officer is recovering as we know this could have been a very tragic outcome,” Sewell said.

The new police commissioner was joined at the afternoon press conference by newly sworn-in Mayor Eric Adams.

Adams vowed to “find the gun, find the person who discharged the weapon and those who believe they are going to destroy our city with gun and gang violence.”

A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information about the officer shooting.

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Sat, Jan 01 2022 01:50:29 PM
Arrest Made After 2 Shot on Manhattan-Bound Subway During Argument https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/arrest-made-after-2-shot-on-manhattan-bound-subway-during-argument/3465309/ 3465309 post https://media.nbcnewyork.com/2021/12/harlem-subway-shooting.png?fit=300,169&quality=85&strip=all Police have arrested a Brooklyn man in connection with the shooting of two people earlier this month on a subway traveling between the Bronx and Manhattan.

Ronney Bernacet, 26, of Brooklyn, is in custody and facing two counts of assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Police said the victims, both in their early 20s, were shot on Dec. 4 while riding a southbound 4 train before it pulled into a Harlem subway station.

The first shots were fired around 12:15 a.m., with a 21-year-old man suffering gunshot wounds in his leg and both arms and a 22-year-old shot in the stomach. Both survived their wounds.

Police said the victims and suspect began an argument while standing on a subway platform that continued onto the 4 train. It was onboard the moving train that the gunman opened fire.

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Thu, Dec 23 2021 05:36:09 AM