In the Bronx, a life was tragically cut short in what should have been an ordinary morning. Angel Cuasant, a 26-year-old man, was inside a deli on Briggs Avenue on December 18, 2022, when violence erupted. At approximately 11:15 a.m., a 911 call reported a man had been shot. When police arrived at the Fordham Manor deli, they discovered Cuasant with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. Emergency services rushed him to St.
Barnabas Hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The aftermath of the shooting left a family devastated and searching for answers. Angel's mother described her son as a 'good kid' who 'didn't look for trouble,' a sentiment echoed by others who knew him. She was heartbroken to lose the youngest of her six children and struggled to comprehend the violent act that took his life. His family firmly stated that he was not involved in gang activity. In their grief, they mourned a young man, also known as 'Pookie,' who they felt was taken far too soon.
For months, the case remained without an arrest, leaving the family in a state of uncertainty. However, on April 5, 2023, the New York Police Department announced a breakthrough in the investigation. Authorities arrested 37-year-old Andres Latorre in connection with the fatal shooting. Latorre, a resident of the Melrose section of the Bronx, was subsequently charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting further legal proceedings.
