In the late hours of a Tuesday evening in the Bronx, tragedy struck 24-year-old Charles Wilkins. On May 18, 2021, at approximately 11:27 p.m., gunfire erupted at the corner of Willis Avenue and East 137th Street in the Mott Haven section. When officers from the 40th Precinct arrived at the scene, they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds.
One of them was Charles Wilkins, a resident of East 137th Street.
Emergency medical services rushed both victims to nearby Lincoln Hospital. Despite their efforts, Wilkins, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body, was pronounced dead a short time later. The second victim, a 20-year-old man, was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg and was reported to be in stable condition. He was reportedly uncooperative with investigators.
The preliminary investigation into the shooting suggested that it was the result of a gang-related dispute. It is believed that Wilkins and the other victim were involved in an argument with the shooter which violently escalated. The gunman reportedly exited a black sedan, possibly a Lincoln Town Car, and chased the victims while firing multiple shots. After the shooting, the assailant got back into the vehicle and fled the scene, heading eastbound on East 138th Street.
Authorities described the shooter as a male wearing all-black clothing, a black mask, and blue gloves. Surveillance footage captured images of the suspect and the vehicle, but as of the latest available reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Charles Wilkins. The investigation remains ongoing, and the New York City Police Department has appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the person or persons responsible.
