In the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, 18-year-old Joseph Ozuna, a male, was fatally shot on Sunday, January 10, 2021. At approximately 3:40 p.m., police responded to a 911 call and discovered Ozuna unconscious and unresponsive outside the Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue, where he lived. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and neck.
Emergency medical services transported him to nearby Lincoln Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Known in his community as a passionate and talented dancer who had won numerous trophies, Ozuna was described by family and friends as a cheerful and friendly individual. His death, particularly devastating to his mother as he was her only child, sent shockwaves through the community, who mourned the senseless loss of a promising young life. In the initial stages of the investigation, the motive for the shooting was unclear, and the New York City Police Department had not identified any suspects.
As the investigation progressed, authorities identified Carlos Melendez, then 30 years old, as a suspect in Ozuna's murder. Melendez had a prior history of arrests related to guns and drugs. In April 2021, the NYPD publicly identified him and sought information from the public regarding his whereabouts. After a four-year investigation, an arrest was finally made. In March 2025, Carlos Melendez, then 34, was taken into custody. He faces charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the death of Joseph Ozuna.
