In the Bronx, New York, on the night of June 2, 2018, 17-year-old Vlana Roberts, a Black female, was enjoying a warm evening with her friends. They were simply listening to music and dancing on Vyse Avenue, near East 181st Street, when the night took a tragic turn. A street fight broke out nearby, and in the chaos that ensued, gunshots rang out. Vlana, an innocent bystander, was struck in the back by a stray bullet.
Her brother, Kirk Stinson, who was with her, watched in horror as his sister fell to the ground. A friend rushed her to St. Barnabas Hospital, but her injuries were too severe, and she was pronounced dead.
The senseless violence that claimed Vlana's life left her family and community devastated. She was remembered as a caring individual with aspirations of becoming a nurse and a talented high school basketball player who was looking forward to her senior year. The family's grief was compounded when Vlana's father, who had been battling cancer, passed away just a short time after his daughter's death. Her brother believes his father died of a broken heart. A candlelight vigil was held outside her home as the search for her killer began. Initially, another individual was questioned by police but was later released.
The investigation led authorities to 16-year-old Julius Romero. Using cell phone records, investigators tracked him to Florida, where he was apprehended in September 2018, three months after the shooting. Romero was extradited back to the Bronx to face justice for his alleged actions. He was charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. The arrest brought a small measure of solace to Vlana's grieving family, who expressed their hope for the maximum sentence as they continued to mourn the profound loss of a young life full of promise.
