On a summer evening in 2020, Apolonio Rivera, a 58-year-old Hispanic male, was fatally shot in the Inwood section of Manhattan. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 25, 2020, at approximately 10:15 p.m. near the intersection of West 207th Street and Sherman Avenue. Rivera was reportedly spending time with friends when the tranquil evening was shattered by gunfire.
According to police reports from the time, officers from the 34th Precinct responded to a 911 call regarding a man shot.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Apolonio Rivera with a gunshot wound to his chest. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene and transported Rivera to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooting was believed to have stemmed from a dispute that escalated, culminating in the tragic loss of life.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the New York Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Authorities canvassed the area for evidence and witnesses, seeking to piece together the events that led to the fatal encounter. As of August 2020, no arrests had been made in connection with the murder of Apolonio Rivera, and the investigation remained ongoing. Information regarding any subsequent developments, including the identification or apprehension of any suspects, has not been made publicly available in the years that have followed.
Apolonio Rivera was remembered by his family as a loving father, husband, and grandfather. His daughter initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses, where she described him as the primary provider for their family and an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. The family's plea for justice underscored the profound impact of his sudden and violent death on his loved ones and the community.
