In the early hours of a Sunday morning in the Bronx, a senseless act of violence claimed the life of Eric Velasquez, a 34-year-old man who was visiting his mother. On May 16, 2021, at approximately 12:31 a.m., Velasquez was shot in the abdomen in front of a building on East 184th Street in the Fordham Heights neighborhood. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Velasquez, a father who had moved to Yonkers with his wife and children, was not involved in any criminal activity and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The shooting was the result of an indiscriminate firing into a crowd, an act allegedly committed by 16-year-old Alberto Ramirez. Authorities believe the shooting stemmed from a gang rivalry, with Ramirez being a member of the 'Young Gunnaz' gang who opened fire in an area controlled by a rival group. Velasquez, an innocent bystander, was tragically caught in the crossfire. His family vehemently denied any gang affiliation on his part, describing him as a loving, family-oriented man.
Following an investigation, Alberto Ramirez turned himself in to the 46th Precinct stationhouse and was arrested on June 7, 2021. He was charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a firearm. The case brought attention to the issue of juvenile offenders, as it was reported that Ramirez had previous weapons-related arrests, but his cases were handled in Family Court due to his age. Months before the fatal shooting, a judge had lowered Ramirez's bail on a prior weapons charge, allowing for his release.
