The Bronx mother of a young Norwood man who she alleges was shot 17 times inside a bodega in Fordham Manor now says the man charged with her son’s killing, allegedly told his own family members inside a courtroom, “I got this, I’m coming out,” which allegedly set off a heated exchange between the families of the victim and of the accused, and an alleged subsequent removal of some attendees from the courtroom.

 

The victim’s mother, who Norwood News has agreed not to name, is the parent of longtime Norwood resident, Angel “Pookie” Cuasant, 26, who was shot and killed inside the 194th Street Deli and Grocery located at East 194th Street and Briggs Avenue on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, as reported.

 

On Wednesday, April 5, the NYPD announced the arrest of Andres Latorre, 37, of East 158th Street in connection with the incident, as reported. Latorre was arraigned and charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon and is remanded in custody. He has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on July 27.

 

Cuasant’s mom alleges Latorre gave certain statements to the authorities regarding the incident which resulted in her son’s death before later changing them. We asked the Bronx District Attorney’s office if they could corroborate the specifics of this allegation and we were informed that as the case is pending, and hasn’t yet gone to trial, they could not comment. We have contacted both Bronx Defenders and The Legal Aid Society both by phone and email in attempts to identify Latorre’s defense counsel in order to reach them for comment. So far, we have not received a response.

 

We also contacted the Bronx County Clerk’s office and the Office of Court Administration in efforts to identify and contact the assigned defense counsel for Latorre. We did not receive an immediate response from the Bronx County Clerk’s office. The Office of the Court Administrator was unable to confirm.

On Saturday, April 8, Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin, commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct which covers parts of Fordham Manor, was asked about the case. “Yes,” he said, confirming the arrest, adding, “in the bodega,” referring to the location of the incident. Referring to a suspect who had been sought by police in connection to the case, Scheublin added, “He was apprehended a couple of days ago. I know they got him. There was so much going on. It was just great to hear he was apprehended.”

 

Hours before attending a Bronx District Attorney-sponsored event for victims of violence at the Bronx Zoo on April 25, a day before Latorre’s court appearance, Cuasant’s heartbroken mother met with Norwood News and spoke for the first time about it since Latorre’s arrest. Having previously said she thought the case was being mishandled, as reported, the mom said, “I really thought there wasn’t going to be any arrest, and I thought I was going to die without this kid getting arrested.”

 

Cuasant’s mother said she still maintains, as reported, that a mystery woman was involved in the murder, alleging, “This guy killed for her because that’s what he did. He just got Pookie out of the way.” Choking back tears, the mom added, “My son was no threat to anybody.”

According to court records provided to Norwood News by the Bronx district attorney’s office, Latorre was charged on Tuesday, April 25, on second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. Hours after his court appearance, Cuasant’s mom said when Latorre appeared in court, she heard some verbal exchanges taking place between Latorre and his family, adding that one of them said something to the effect of, “Don’t worry about it.”

 

She further alleges Latorre said, “I got this; I’m coming out.” She alleges the family then all started laughing. “Oh my God! What was that for?” Cuasant’s mom asked incredulously.

The mother, who appeared angry, continued, “That triggered me! That really triggered me, and I went off!” Cuasant’s mom said a subsequent confrontation between the Latorre family and her family took place and spilled out into the hallway, and that eventually court officers allegedly escorted about 20 of Latorre’s family members out of the building.

 

When contacted by Norwood News about the alleged courthouse confrontation, the Bronx District Attorney’s office could not confirm Cuasant’s mother’s account of what happened. We also contacted the Office of the Court Administrator for corroboration of the alleged incident and they were unable to confirm either. As above, we have tried to identify the legal counsel for Latorre to request a comment on the incident but so far, have not received any feedback.

 

Regarding the allegation by Cuasant’s mother that the victim was shot 17 times, Norwood News contacted the 52nd Precinct, the Bronx district attorney’s office, and the office of the City’s medical examiner for corroboration. A police official said he would check and get back to us, adding that it could perhaps be the case that both the entry and exit bullet wounds were recorded in the autopsy report.

 

The police official did confirm Cuasant was shot several times but did not have the exact number to hand when we spoke to him. We did not receive a response on this point from the Bronx DA’s office but, as above, as the case is pending and hasn’t yet gone to trial, it is likely they cannot comment at the moment.

 

Norwood News also went to the listed address for Latorre provided to us by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in efforts to reach somebody who might be able to reach the defendant or his legal representatives to obtain a comment on the story but we were unsuccessful.

 

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

Anyone with information regarding 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 Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.