Bronxites are standing in solidarity with a grieving Dominican community ever since hearing news of the tragic roof collapse at the Jet Set niteclub in the country’s capital, Santo Domingo, on Tuesday, April 8. The death toll has risen to at least 231 people according to several media reports, and more than 180 have been injured. At least two victims of the collapse were from The Bronx, retired NYPD Det. Enmanuel Gomez of Home Street in the South Bronx and Manny Diaz of University Heights.

 

Based on the 2020 Census, there are 702,330 residents of Dominican origin living in New York City, representing 7.9% of the city’s total population. The Bronx has the largest concentration with 334,347 Dominican residents, and they make up around 23.8% of the borough’s population. According to census records, Dominicans recently surpassed Puerto Ricans as the largest Latino national subgroup.

 

Norwood News reached out to the responsible DR government agency and to the U.S. Consulate in the Dominican Republic (DR) for precise details of the accident, including the cause, if known, the number of people in the niteclub at the time of the collapse, the number permitted by law, along with other questions, but did not receive a response.

 

According to various media reports, those killed include meringue singer Rubby Perez, who was performing in the club when the collapse occurred, and former Major League Baseball players, Octavio Dotel, Tony Enrique Blanco Cabrera, and Nelson Cruz.

 

According to the NYPD, Gomez joined the department in 2004 and was promoted to detective in 2017. He had spent the last several years as a detective at the 49th Precinct located on Eastchester Road. The Precinct covers the Bronx neighborhoods of Allerton, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway, Eastchester Gardens, and Pelham Gardens.

During his career, Gomez had made 150 felony arrests and 319 misdemeanor arrests. He retired in October as a 3rd grade detective. Asked about his memories of Gomez, Pastor Jay Gooding Sr. of the 49th Precinct Clergy Council said, “As a matter of fact, one of my members, his store was robbed. He had a 99-cent store on (East) Gun Hill Road and Det. Gomez was the one who came in and investigated.”

 

As part of the clergy council, Gooding Sr. often hosts “roll call” events at the 49th Precinct in remembrance of officers who die or are killed in the line of duty. “Down through the years, many times we did the roll calls, and he was there at many of the events we had,” Gooding Sr. said.

 

He added that a public memorial for Gomez would be announced shortly. Meanwhile, the Dominican American Republican Club invited the community to its monthly meeting and vigil prayer for the victims on Wednesday, April 16, in Allerton.

 

On April 9, Irene Estrada, a minister and spiritual advisor for the NYPD Policewoman’s Endowment Association, visited the precinct and prayed with several officers who had worked with Gomez on the nightshift. “All of the officers said that this detective had been at the 49 for so many years, that he had always been dedicated and very committed to his work and to his partners,” Estrada said. “Everybody loved the way he worked and the way he carried himself; a man of integrity.”

 

Asked how the Gomez family were doing, Estrada said, “They all went to DR to help find the bodies because at the time, they had still not found his body. They found his brother’s body first. Yeah, his brother died too.”

 

Estrada said of the officers who served with Gomez, “They were all taking it very hard and I was, like, wow! These guys are overwhelmed with the death of their friend, and they still show up to work and they’ve got to carry themselves like nothing’s happened.”
She concluded, “So I was there to comfort them and pray for them, and they were just sharing stories about him, that he was a man of integrity. They respected him, and [said he was] a good partner when he went out there in the streets.”

Norwood News learned less about Manny Diaz, the second Bronx victim of the tragedy. Residents had set up a makeshift memorial in his memory, comprising candles and flowers outside 2310 University Avenue in University Heights on April 12.
One resident of the building told us older residents of the building erected the memorial after learning of Diaz’s death. The resident said Diaz had moved out “many years ago.”

 

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the Jet Set Niteclub management posted a statement on its Instagram page in Spanish. It read, “Antonio Espaillat, a representative of the Jet Set family, encouraged the country to stand with the victims and their families. The businessman found himself out of the country when this desperate, sad tragedy occurred and immediately returned to make himself available to collaborate with the authorities in the investigation and rescue efforts.”

 

It continued, “Today, we would like to turn our attention, above all, to the families affected by the tragedy that occurred last night at Jet Set. There are no adequate words to express the pain that this event has generated. What happened has been devastating for everyone. We want you to know that we are with you, that we share in your anguish.”

 

The statement continued, “From the first moment, we have been collaborating totally and transparently with the authorities. We are in constant contact with the Center of Emergency Operations (COE), while they continue the search and rescue efforts with the emergency teams, volunteers and employees from more than 22 institutions.”

 

Another further section read, “As a family, Jet Set is with you. To you, the mothers, fathers, brothers, sons, and loved ones of those affected: they count on us. Everything we do now, every decision, every step has one purpose: to stand in solidarity with those in pain and to accompany them.”

 

It continued, “We want to thank, sincerely, the president of the Republic, Luis Abinader Corona. His presence at the site of the tragedy was a clear sign of solidarity. We also appreciate the tireless work of the emergency teams, and the respect with which the media and the citizens are handling this very delicate situation. Today, more than ever, we are a family. Thank you, Jet Set”

Back in The Bronx, Borough President Vanessa Gibson, recently endorsed by several Bronx Democratic clubs as well as the 1199SEIU in her reelection bid, and who has also been named, among others, in a recent lawsuit challenging the integrity of the Kingsbridge Armory RFP selection process, had issued a statement in remembrance of the Jet Set niteclub victims in the initial aftermath of the tragedy.

 

Indeed, it came when the death toll was at twenty and read in part, “Our prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by this devastating event. This tragedy hit close to home, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to both the Dominican Republic and the community here in New York City.”

 

After a prayer vigil at Lincoln Hospital on Friday, April 11, Councilmember Rafael Salamanca (C.D. 17), who is currently running for Bronx borough president, posted on X, “We reaffirm our solidarity with all of our Dominican sisters and brothers who are grieving this loss.”

 

As the rescue efforts continued and the death toll gradually rose, several vigils were planned or have already taken place in the borough. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that 13 State landmarks were to be illuminated in blue, white and red to honor the victims of the tragedy on April 14.

 

The same day New York City Mayor Eric Adams, visited DR, along with NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, a former councilman who represented Washington Heights in Manhattan, a heavily populated Hispanic neighborhood. They toured the scene of the collapse, met with relatives of the victims, laid flowers, and offered words of support.

 

Laying a wreath during his trip, Adams said it was a symbol not only of his love, but of the love that the Dominican Republic and New York had for all those impacted by the tragedy. “I’ll say it over and over again,” Adams said. “I’m not just the mayor of the city. I’m your brother, and your brother mourns with you. We pray for the families, and we pray for all those that are impacted. In New York, mi casa es su casa [my home is your home].”

 

As reported, Judge Dale E. Ho of the Federal District Court in Manhattan recently dismissed “with prejudice,” on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, the bribery and corruption charges brought against the mayor in September 2024, following a November 2023 federal probe into the campaign finances relating to his 2021 mayoral election campaign. On April 3, the mayor announced he had dropped out of the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary and is now running as an independent, as reported by Politico.

 

We asked City Hall if during the mayor’s trip to DR, he had used the opportunity to also visit the grave or the relatives of Bronx homicide victim, Pamela Alcántara Rubiera, whose body was found in a suitcase in Yonkers in early March. Liz Garcia, first deputy press secretary, said, “He visited the family of a retired NYPD detective who passed away in the collapse. I do not believe he visited Pamela’s family as he was there to survey the Jet Set damage, but of course that is just as tragic.”

 

Also, on April 14, Hochul joined Gibson, Dominican residents, community leaders, clergy members, and a host of Dominican elected officials representing The Bronx and Northern Manhattan at a vigil on Lou Gehrig Plaza in the Concourse section of the borough to honor the lives lost in the tragedy.