Morrisania News: Crime Comes Back with a Bloody Vengeance

Morrisania News: Crime Comes Back with a Bloody Vengeance: Murder-Free Week Ends with Bloody Weekend (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 23- A rare lull i...

Crime Comes Back with a Bloody Vengeance

Murder-Free Week Ends with Bloody Weekend

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 23- A rare lull in citywide homicides ended with a weekend of gunfire that claimed the lives of four individuals across the borough.

The bloodshed began shortly after Pennsylvania resident Tyrek Singleton returned to his childhood home at the John Adams Houses on Tinton Street.

Singleton and a friend were ambushed by two assailants outside of 680 Tinton Avenue, at just after 6 p.m., of October 18.

Singleton was shot in the chest and was dead on arrival at Lincoln Hospital. His still-unidentified 26-year-old friend was shot in the leg and is recovering.

One police source stated that the surviving victim stated he did not know his assailants and no arguments took place before the shooting.

Police were once again called to reports of gunfire at 2:15 a.m., on October 19, when officers from the 42nd Precinct and PSA 7 discovered a man shot in the head outside the Arthur H. Murphy Houses, located at 1575 Vyse Avenue.

Investigators say Pablo Pagan, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene, steps away from his apartment.

Neighbors described Pagan as a dedicated father of three children who volunteered at the Castle Hill Little League.

After a third call of gunfire, police in Soundview were called to 1550 Westchester Avenue and discovered a man shot in the head and chest and lying on the ground at 4:14 a.m.

Authorities say Marco Castillo, 24, was shot after an argument with two men. According to one published report, Castillo was brawling with one of his attackers and winning the battle, when the second individual pulled out the gun and shot him.

Castillo was rushed to Jacobi Hospital, where he died.

Residents reported hearing two gunshots and police are reportedly looking for two individuals, described as male Hispanics. The hooligan who started the fistfight was wearing a blue hooded jacket, the gunman reportedly had a mouth full of gold teeth.

A fourth victim was reported at 6:40 a.m. the following morning when police say Julio Ortiz, 38, of West 246 Street was also shot in the chest as he sat in his vehicle at a gas station.

Ortiz attempted to drive away, when he rear-ended another vehicle at Boston Road and Conner Street.

Ortiz was transported by EMS, but died at Jacobi Hospital.

A week earlier the city had reported a nearly unprecedented week as the NYPD released crime statistics for the week of October 7 through October 13, in which no homicides were reported in the five boroughs.

Marching at the annual Columbus Day Parade, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told reporters, "We had no homicides in the city, which is, I think, emblematic of how safe the city has become and what a great job the New York City police officers are doing."

Despite the bloodshed, if current trends continue the city could have the lowest murder rate in half a century. Last year the city recorded 419 killings.

Statistics show there have been 256 murders around the city in 2013, compared with 346 reported at the same time last year.

The NYPD also reports that overall gun crime is down with 879 shootings, compared with 1,145 recorded during the first ten-months of 2012.

Despite the statistics detectives have yet to make a single arrest in any of the most recent Bronx killings. Anyone with any information in any of the cases are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS.

Morrisania News: Man Gunned Down on His Birthday

Morrisania News: Man Gunned Down on His Birthday: Came Back to Bx to Celebrate Will Leave in a Coffin (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- A y...

Man Gunned Down on His Birthday

Came Back to Bx to Celebrate Will Leave in a Coffin

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- A young man returning to his old neighborhood of Morrisania to celebrate his 29th birthday with family and friends, was gunned-down outside of the John Adams Houses.

Police sources say two men in their 20's were outside of 680 Tinton Avenue, when they were approached by two assailants and gunfire erupted at  6:08 p.m. on October 18.

One detective stated, "Two male Blacks walked up (on the two victims) and started shooting and left the location." The two men were shot at the entrance to the building.

A second source stated the two suspects calmly walked north on Tinton towards Westchester Avenue and the Jackson Avenue subway station.

One victim in his 20's was shot in the chest and died on the way to Lincoln Hospital. The second victim, also in his 20's was shot in the leg and was recovering at the same hospital.

Police would later identify the victim as Tyrek Singleton, 28, of the Bronx.

However, family and friends of Singleton stated that the young man had moved to Pottstown, PA.

A longtime friend clarified, stating, "He had gotten out of the neighborhood and was living in Pennsylvania, but he came back to celebrate his birthday. He's going to be 29..."

The distraught friend who declined to give his name, and only referred to Singleton by his street name, "S.P.," thought for a second before correcting himself, adding, "He was going to be 29 tomorrow, I can't believe this."

Friends say Singleton was a construction worker who loved to play basketball.

Officers from the 40th Precinct closed-off the main entrance to the building and the complex's courtyard and adjoining park as investigators combed the area for shell-casings and other evidence.

Police were looking for the two suspects, both described as male Blacks in their 20's. One suspect, a skinny male, wearing a white hooded jacket and blue jeans. The second assailant was wearing a gray hooded jacket and dark jeans.

Investigators say both men are still being sought and are both believed to be between 5 foot 8 and 5 foot 9.

Answering the door to the family home on E. 152 Street, Singleton's niece Lavasia Burnett, 18, stated while choking back tears, "There's no reason why he's here celebrating his birthday and we have to identify his body."

Hours after the killing a patrol car was still stationed outside the building, when a man from the church across the street asked the officer if he could move his car, as a wedding party was about to exit the church.

When the officer replied that he could not, church officials moved a bus in front of the church, blocking the view of the police car.

The police presence would remain for the immediate future as police sources say that officers from the 40th Precinct and Public Service Area 7, which covers New York City Housing Authority property, were said to be on a heightened alert for retaliatory violence.

The New York City Housing Authority has reportedly been sitting on more than $40 million in taxpayer money for the instillation of surveillance cameras at complex's such as the John Adams Houses.

The immediate area surrounding the John Adams Houses has been a longtime magnet for mayhem.

Back on July 5, Jamal Davis, 33, was fatally shot on the basketball courts at 975 Tinton Avenue.

On July 20, a second unidentified man was shot in the chest and back along Tinton Avenue, but survived. Police continue to hunt for the killers of both Davis and now Singleton.   

Morrisania News: Brazen Thief Robs Store Across from Police Station...

Morrisania News: Brazen Thief Robs Store Across from Police Station...: By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, April 30- He must have had the luck of the Irish, when a thief robbed the Deals discount store located at ...

Brazen Thief Robs Store Across from Police Station

By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, April 30- He must have had the luck of the Irish, when a thief robbed the Deals discount store located at 837 Washington Avenue--directly across the street from the 42nd Precinct.

Police officials have yet to acknowledge the incident that took place late Saturday, April 27, at the Duane Reade-type store.

One manager of the store confirmed an, "incident," took place, but refused to elaborate if it was a hold-up or a break-in. An employee would later refer inquiries to their corporate office, but did not have the number.

A resident of the building, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, stated, "I know that one of the detectives from the precinct, directly across from the building, asked me if I saw something. That's how I know that something happened downstairs."

A second resident stated, "You pay so much to live across from the police... you think your safe from that kind of stuff."

The 42nd Precinct, which covers the Morrisanna section, is currently experiencing an overall 14.97 percent decrease in crime. The latest statistics show the command has had two homicides in the first
four-months of the 2013, tied with the same time period last year.

However, the precinct also reported 72 robberies, down from a reported 95 last year, while burglaries are down from 45 to 32.

Morrisania News: Child Caused Blaze that Injured 50-Officials Say

Morrisania News: Child Caused Blaze that Injured 50-Officials Say: (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, April 15- Nearly 50 residents and first responders were injured w...