He Grew Up in Norwood and Died There

By DAVID GREENE

For the third time in six weeks, a life was cut short in Norwood, leaving grief-stricken family to plan for a funeral as detectives at the 52nd Precinct hunt for a killer. It’s the precinct’s third homicide this year, surpassing last year’s total homicide rate at the Five-Two. According to police, more than a dozen teens were holding a pre-summer barbecue at just after midnight on May 29, in the courtyard of a building along DeKalb Avenue and East 212th Street, when a fight broke out and a knife was plunged into the chest of 18-year-old Damion C. Gilbert, Jr. of Williamsbridge. Unlike the

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service

By DAVID CRUZ and DAVID GREENE

Police are close to tracking a suspect they’ve identified in the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man in Norwood. The shooting at the 52nd Precinct ranks as the first homicide in 2018 for the northwest Bronx stationhouse. During the regular monthly meeting of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, held on April 26, at the Fordham United Methodist Church on Marion Avenue, Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Peter Fiorillo made it known during his breakdown of the latest crime statistics for the area. “There is a person identified already and the hunts on. We’re still looking for him, we haven’t arrested him

by David Greene Three men are in custody after an early morning break-in at a Norwood laundromat–and cops say the trio is suspected in 33 similar jobs from Manhattan to Westchester. Residents say a small army of police on the ground and a helicopter overhead, converged on the Spin City Laundromat at 345 East 204 Street at just before 3 a.m. on Thursday, July 30. One police source told the Norwood News, “We responded to a burglary here last night. It was apart of a pattern-crime (and) who were responsible for 33 similar break-in’s from Yonkers to Manhattan.” The officer smiled before adding, “And we

Oval To Host 31st Annual National Night Out Against Crime

By Brittney Williams Hundreds of residents from the Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood and University Heights will converge at the Williamsbridge Oval in its yearly call against criminals. The annual National Night Out Against Crime takes place on Tuesday, August 5 at the Williamsbridge Oval Park from 5 to 8 p.m. The night offers a varied mix of activities for children and families such as face painting and bouncing houses. Backpacks and other school supplies are also given out to children to help prepare them for the upcoming school year. The event was founded in the early 1980s, serving as a

Out on Errands, Teen Murdered on Jerome Avenue

Michael Beltre, a 17-year-old high school student who recently moved to the Bronx from the Dominican Republic, was murdered last night in front of 2622 Jerome Ave. just after 7 p.m. Police say Beltre was shot in the face and transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bronx Girl Comes Home to Head 5-2

The mood was bittersweet last week as Inspector Joseph Dowling tearfully removed his 52nd Precinct Commanding Officer’s pin and handed it off to Nilda Hofmann, a hometown girl who grew up in the community she will now oversee.

New Five-Two Commander To Be Introduced Tonight

Inspector Joseph Dowling is moving on from his post as commander of the Bronx’s 52nd Precinct. But first, he will introduce his replacement, Nilda Hofmann, at tonight’s Precinct Community Council meeting at St. James Episcopal Church (2500 Jerome Ave., across the street from Monroe College), which starts at 7 p.m.

Man Survives After Shooting Himself Inside St. Brendan’s Church

A 53-year-old man shot himself in chest inside the sanctuary at St. Brendan’s Church in Norwood this morning, police said. The man, who wasn’t recognized by church leaders as a member or frequent visitor, is expected to survive and is being treated at St. Barnabas Hospital.

Report: After Crash, Bronx Woman Stabbed to Death By Ex-Flame

Police responding to a call of an overturned vehicle at just before 4 a.m. today on the northbound New England Thruway at the Pelham Parkway exit, discovered the body of 20-year old Parkchester resident Katherine German, who had been stabbed several times. German’s 31-year old ex-boyfriend, Daniel Espinal, was taken into custody at the scene. Police say Espinal, a cabbie with Kiss Car Service who had a small child with German, had run the SUV German was traveling in with another man off the thruway.