In the Soundview section of the Bronx, a burst of gunfire shattered the afternoon quiet on March 16, 2022. When police officers from the 43rd Precinct arrived at the corner of East 172nd Street and Harrod Avenue around 2:58 p.m., they found Dellin Scarlett, an 18-year-old male, grievously wounded. The young man, a resident of Fteley Avenue, had sustained multiple gunshot wounds across his body, including to his shoulder, chest, abdomen, and limbs.
Emergency medical services were
dispatched to the scene and quickly transported Scarlett to Jacobi Hospital. Despite their efforts, the severity of his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The incident, which unfolded in broad daylight, left the community shaken and the New York Police Department with an urgent homicide investigation.
The investigation into the death of Dellin Lamar Scarlett continued for several weeks. On April 2, 2022, authorities announced a significant development in the case with the arrest of a suspect. Rafael Saavedra, who was also 18 years old, was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. Saavedra, a resident of Olmstead Avenue, was subsequently charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.
