Police launched two murder inquiries following the deaths of two people in two incidents in Mt. Hope within a 24-hour period.

 

On Friday, May 24, at around 5.57 p.m., officers from the 46th Precinct responded to a 911 call regarding a person who had been shot at 1825 Topping Avenue. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 37-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the right leg,” a police spokesperson said. “The 37-year-old male was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.”

 

Police said a person of interest was taken into custody and the investigation remains ongoing. The deceased was identified as Marcus Henderson of 1825 Toppings Avenue in The Bronx.

 

The following day, pursuant to an ongoing investigation, Brandon Austin, 29, of 1825 Topping Avenue was arrested. He was also charged on Saturday at around 2.50 p.m. in the 46th Precinct with murder in the second degree, aggravated manslaughter in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

Police said that on the same day, Saturday, May 25, at around 10.10 hours, in a separate incident, police responded to a 911 call regarding an aided victim inside 1752 Walton Avenue also in Mt. Hope.

“Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious and unresponsive male with multiple stab wounds to the chest,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded and pronounced the aided deceased on scene. A person of interest was taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing.” On the same day, police said the deceased was identified as John Welgoss, 32, of 1752 Walton Avenue, The Bronx.

 

They also said that pursuant to an ongoing investigation, Jacqueline Ratliff, 60, also of 1752 Walton Avenue, was arrested. They said she was charged the same day at 2.50 p.m. in the 46th Precinct, with murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. She is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

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 Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.