In the Bronx, a 37-year-old Hispanic male named Miguel Aviles tragically lost his life on the night of June 9, 2018. The evening took a violent turn in the Belmont neighborhood when gunfire erupted in the courtyard of an apartment building on East 183rd Street. When police arrived at the scene around 10:30 p.m., they discovered Aviles with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.
Another individual, a 25-year-old woman, was also found at the scene with a gunshot wound to her leg.
Both victims were quickly transported to St. Barnabas Hospital for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Miguel Aviles was pronounced dead at the hospital. The female victim, however, was listed in stable condition. The shooting reportedly occurred during a memorial service that was being held in the courtyard. Neighbors in the vicinity recounted hearing what they initially thought were fireworks, only to later learn the devastating reality of the situation.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the New York Police Department secured the area, with evidence markers visible on the ground as the crime scene unit began its work. The investigation into the death of Miguel Aviles was launched, but for a long time, no arrests were made, and the case remained ongoing. The lack of progress in identifying a suspect or suspects left a community searching for answers and a family grieving without closure. The police had appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. In September 2020, a Bronx resident named Jose J. Aviles was arrested in Jacksonville, Illinois, on a warrant for second-degree murder that occurred in New York. He was extradited to New York to face the charges.
