On a tragic evening in Staten Island, New York, the life of 33-year-old Ana Desousa was cut short in a brutal act of violence. On May 11, 2020, Desousa, who was pregnant at the time, and her boyfriend, 46-year-old Alafia Rodriguez, were fatally shot inside their Mariners Harbor home. The attack, which unfolded shortly after 5 p.m. on Grandview Avenue, also left a 43-year-old woman critically injured with multiple gunshot wounds. Miraculously, Desousa's young child, who was just under two years old, was present in the house during the shooting but was physically unharmed.
Responding officers arrived at a horrifying scene, discovering Desousa and Rodriguez with multiple gunshot wounds; both were pronounced dead at their home. As police approached the residence, they encountered a man attempting to leave the premises. This individual, identified as 45-year-old Philip Moreno, was quickly taken into custody. Authorities reported that Moreno was armed when he was arrested, and a semi-automatic firearm was recovered at the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide suggested a grim motive. Friends and sources familiar with the situation indicated that the shooting may have stemmed from a long-standing feud between Moreno and Rodriguez. Moreno, who had a significant criminal history including a prior murder conviction from 1992, had been released on parole before the deadly encounter. Following the incident, Moreno faced a litany of charges, including three counts of murder—one for the unborn child—attempted murder, and multiple weapons possession charges. The shocking violence left a community in mourning and a family shattered by the loss of two lives and the uncertain future of a third victim fighting for her life.
