As reported, a police crime scene unit was seen outside the location on Sunday morning as police continued to carry out their investigation into the incident. A candle memorial was also seen outside the building along with some messages which read, “Rest Easy Baby Boys, Toya,” and “Gone [too] soon. Rest Peacefully, Nikki.”

 

Norwood News spoke to a man who was sweeping litter from in front of a building across the street from the shelter on Sunday, Nov. 27, when police were still investigating the incident. Asked when the shelter opened, the porter said, “The end of last year this opened, in November or December, something like that. I don’t think it’s been a year yet.”

 

Asked if there had ever been any type of violent incident at the location before, he said, “No, never… I don’t know.” We asked if he knew the impacted family. He replied, “No. I know the lady was young, like 24-years-old. When is it that bad that you kill two kids? I don’t understand that. It never gets that bad. It never gets that bad.”

Asked if he was a parent, he said, “I’ve got one daughter. It’s outrageous, not even heard of… I mean, not in my family, not in my book. God will never give you anything you can’t handle.”

 

Later on Sunday, Norwood News spoke to one former female resident of the building about the incident who declined to be identified and who said, “Yeah, I lived there for a year, and some change. To my knowledge, I think the building was open for a few years already. I know it’s a new residence, but I’m not sure how long it’s been open.”

 

The woman added, “My experience at this location was bad. I was in the SUS Program for about two years in total. That’s the shelter program, they have another location that’s related to domestic violence. This (Echo Place location) is just a family shelter.” The woman continued, “Very, very bad transition to permanent housing… it’s a really, really unprofessional place.”

 

“That place almost got set on fire last year as well. Somebody upstairs almost set their apartment on fire. I don’t know if it was intentional. They were leaving and their kitchen almost went up in flames.” Asked if the shelter provided any services to families on site, she said, “You know I got some referrals when I was at the domestic violence location. The family shelter….very poor communications, very unprofessional. The staff, they’re in and out. The turnover with the staff in there is insane.”

 

Asked if she had seen on TV about the incident involving the children, she said, “Yeah. I know the family. I don’t know them very well, but I feel really bad for them in that situation. That woman really should have gotten help. I don’t believe that she was given the help she needed. I feel real, real bad for that woman and her family. It’s a two-parent household. I believe that was the kid’s dad (who found the children) the little kids’ dad.”

 

She added, “I don’t know what was going on behind closed doors, her and him. I never saw any signs of domestic violence or anything like that. The dude was always with his kids. The woman was with the kids for the most part. Whatever was going on behind closed doors, she didn’t get the help she needed in that facility, and I’m pretty sure she was there for a while.”

 

We also spoke to a second former female resident of the building who also declined to be identified, and who said she did not know the impacted family involved in the tragedy. Asked about her experience at the shelter, she said, “It’s half residential, half New York City shelter…..a lot of inconsistencies, a lot of not helping like they should, as far as the shelter system. It’s a pretty clean place to live. That’s about it.”

 

Asked if she was shocked by the news, she said, “Very much so; it’s normally a quiet building.” We asked what was the name of the group running the program at the shelter. The woman said, “Services for the Underserved (S:US).” According to its website, the group is a nonprofit located at 463 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan and “envisions a city where everyone has a roof over their head, is healthy, productive and can enjoy the social connections that create a life of purpose.”

 

Founded in 1978, S:US has a staff of 1,800 that provides $245 million in services, and works with over 37,000 individuals and their families every year “to create pathways to rich and productive lives by offering housing, employment, skills-building, treatment, and recovery services.”

 

S:US did, however, provide some clarification on some of the comments made by the former shelter residents. A representative clarified that S:US has operated the shelter since it opened in November 2020. The representative also clarified that S:US operates the shelter in its entirety, but works in coordination with the New York City Department of Homeless Services.

Meanwhile, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson tweeted on Sunday morning of the incident, “Heartbreaking. These precious babies. God have mercy on their Souls. Just unbelievably sad. Two young NYC boys fatally stabbed in Bronx, Mother in custody.”

 

As reported, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a package of legislation that, among other measures, aims to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence by ensuring guns are seized from abusive partners and protecting the confidentiality of survivors.

 

A few days earlier, hundreds showed up for Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark’s 5th Annual Bronx Walk/Run/Roll to Prevent Domestic Violence on Saturday, Oct. 15, to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

On Nov. 22, as reported, the City Council passed two new bills to support survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, ushering in the City’s annual, “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign,” which kicked off on Nov. 25 (International Day to End Violence Against Women) and ends on Dec. 10 (Human Rights Day).

 

New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 and is available in most languages. Call (800) 942-6906, text (844) 997-2121 or chat at @opdv.ny.gov. Individuals also can visit www.ovs.ny.gov/connect to find a victim assistance program in their community.

 

The Office of Victim Services funds and supports more than 200 programs that provide direct services for victims and survivors of crime and their families, including therapy, support groups, case management, civil legal assistance, accompaniment to court, and transportation, among other assistance.

 

Local services for those affected by domestic or gender-based violence are also available in The Bronx. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, call 311 and ask to be connected to a NYC Family Justice Center or walk-in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the NYC 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-621-4673, or visit the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence for more information.

 

If you are in immediate danger, if you can, dial 911.

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

 

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 CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/or or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.