Police are looking for two gunmen wanted in a pair of unrelated killings along Bainbridge Avenue, taking place just nine days apart, marking the 5th and 6th homicides of the year for the 52nd Precinct.
In the latest incident, police say that officers responded to a 911 call, reporting a male shot at 3:21 a.m. at Bainbridge and Rochambeau avenues, near the entrance to Williamsbridge Oval Park, on Aug. 25.
EMS transported a man with one gunshot wound to the back. He was rushed to Montefiore Medical Center, where he died a short time later.
Police would identify the victim as Edgar Perez, 46, of Norwood. Friends say he had attended a baptism celebration at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church and had lived in the area for many years. The church apparently rents out a banquet hall for late night parties.
Fatal shootings have happened along the stretch before. Across East 204th Street by Bainbridge Avenue, Michael Vermong was shot and killed, allegedly by his friend Jamel Burney, who was charged in his March 29, 2017 slaying. A decade ago, a store owner next to the church was shot and killed.
Nine days before the most recent shooting, about a half mile south on Bainbridge Avenue, police say Isael Lagares, 27, of Bedford Park, was shot outside of 2734 Bainbridge Ave. by East 196th Street in the Fordham Manor section at 10:27 p.m. on Aug. 16.
One witness confirmed Lagares crossed East 196th Street and collapsed at the Bx34 bus stop.
Lagares is believed to have been shot two times in the chest and once in the abdomen. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was also declared deceased on arrival.
Several residents claim the block is influenced by several gangs who control the local drug trade. As officers from the 52nd Precinct responded to Lagares’ shooting, sources reported that several men refused to leave the crime scene. Moments later officer’s were pelted by garbage from windows and rooftops and needed additional officers from the 48th and 50th Precincts as well as at least one helicopter, before order on the block was restored.
Officers from the 52nd Precinct quickly hung two wanted posters, one featuring the victim and the other a surveillance photo of a dark Dodge Charger, the apparent getaway vehicle used by the gunman. All of the posters disappeared from the block within a day.
With Lagares’ death, the one block stretch of East 196th Street, between Bainbridge and Briggs avenues have now recorded three homicides in the last 12 months.
On Dec. 10, Angel Reyes-Godoy, 17, who was beaten and pushed in front of a passing ambulance along East 196th Street. Godoy coincidentally lived in the building where Lagares was shot.
Police would later charge Mario Almonte, 21, and Obeb Adames, 19, in Godoy’s death. Police said at the time that both men were members of the dreaded Trinitarios gang.
On Aug. 17, 2018 Eric Shaw, 55, a resident of the Briggs Avenue, was slashed in the neck in broad daylight. The following day police arrested Travis Mason, 18, who lived in the same building as Shaw.
Mason is currently facing murder and manslaughter charges.
Perez’ death marks the sixth homicide within the 52nd Precinct and now current statistics now exceed last year’s homicide rate, as there were just five killings during the same time period last year.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
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What party for babies needs to go on until 3 am, in a church other than the one in which they were baptized?
I agree with you Mary… The Norwood News is looking into this practice.
A party for babies going beyond 3 am might be excessive, but I respect different life styles. What is absolutely unacceptable, however, is the lack of actions by our elected officers to fight back against crimes. We cannot afford a repetition of this kind of mindless killings. Where is Mayor de Blasio? Where are the elected senator, representative and councilman? We cannot afford being soft on crimes!
Omg! I know Edgar from the deli. My heart is broken for his family.😥 I cannot understand why anyone would do this to him, how can they take his take his precious life? This wrong!!
He doesn’t bother anyone, he’s so reserved and so easy going. I know him as a hardworking man at the deli with a great infectious smile! He doesn’t deserve this.
He had a beautiful smile, he always smiled at his customers. I’m so glad I made him laugh the last time I saw him.
I pray your family will have peace in thirst trouble times. May God bless give you and give you the strength to accept what you cannot change. May The Lord ease your pain.
Rest In Peace my friend!
I’m sure you are in the hands of God!