Two murder investigations are underway after a 35-year-old man was shot dead in the Mt. Hope section of The Bronx and within 7 hours, a 32-year-old man was also shot dead in Fordham Heights. One of the fatal victims is from University Heights, the other from Morris Heights.

 

Police said that on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at around 7.33 a.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a person who had been shot in the vicinity of East 180th Street and Creston Avenue in Fordham Heights.

“Upon arrival, police observed a 32-year-old male, unconscious and unresponsive, with gunshot wounds to the face and back,” an NYPD spokesperson said. “EMS responded and transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries.”

 

The deceased was identified as Rafael Vasquez from Morris Heights. On Friday, Sept. 13, police said that pursuant to an ongoing investigation, Kelvin Mata, 32, of Creston Avenue, Fordham Heights, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 11.08 a.m. in The Bronx.

They said he was charged with one count of murder, one count of first degree manslaughter: intent to cause physical injury, 169 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, 82 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree
criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and one count of criminal possession of a firearm.

 

Around six and half hours prior to this shooting, on the previous night, police said another fatal shooting had taken place a few blocks south in Mt. Hope.

They said that on Sept. 10 at around 11.04 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a man who had been shot at 6 East Burnside Avenue. “Upon arrival, officers discovered a 35-year-old male who was shot once in the abdomen and once in the leg,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was later pronounced deceased.”

 

Police said there were no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing. The deceased was identified as Juan Lluverez from University Heights.

 

Norwood News has asked the NYPD is detectives are looking at any possible connection between the two murders and will share any updates we receive.

On Friday, Sept. 13, at around 9.30 p.m., police responded to a 911 call regarding a male shot at 1911 Anthony Avenue also in Mt. Hope. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 24-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds to his back,” a police spokesperson said. “EMS responded and transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.”

 

Police said there are no arrests, the investigation remains ongoing, and the identity of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification.

Anyone with information in regarding either 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/, on X @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

*David Greene contributed to this story.