A murder investigation is underway according to the NYPD after a 56-year-old man died on Saturday, from injuries sustained during an apparent vicious assault in Fordham Manor on Thursday.

 

Police said that on Thursday, Sept. 12, at around 7.39 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding the assault that occurred in front of 202 East Fordham Road. “Upon arrival, police became aware that two unidentified males approached the victim and physically assaulted the victim by striking him multiple times in the back of his head with a metal baseball bat,” a police spokesperson said. “The unidentified individuals then left [the] location on foot to parts unknown. At this time, there are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing.”

 

Police said the victim was removed to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition, later succumbing to his injuries sustained during the incident. They said the victim was pronounced deceased on Saturday, Sept. 14, and the investigation was classified a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

 

According to the NYPD, on the same day, pursuant to an ongoing investigation, two people were arrested in connection with the incident. They said Romel Jarrett, 37, of no fixed address, and Terrence Downes, 44, of Queens were each charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault.

 

The deceased was identified as Leslie Sanchez, 56, of Grant Avenue in The Bronx. Jarrett and Downes are deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. News 12 The Bronx reported on the assault earlier this month.

 

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 at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.