On the evening of March 24, 2016, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace in the Mariners Harbor neighborhood of Staten Island, leaving a mother and her son dead and another man wounded. Adelle Rivera, a 47-year-old female, and her 21-year-old son, Anthony Rivera, were discovered outside of 14 Roxbury Street with gunshot wounds to the head. Despite being rushed to Richmond University Medical Center, their injuries proved fatal.
A third individual, a 22-year-old man, was also shot multiple times in the leg but was reported to be in critical but stable condition.
The investigation into the deadly shooting quickly centered on a dispute that had reportedly escalated. The New York Police Department identified 49-year-old Anthony Morales, a resident of Staten Island, as a person of interest in the case. The motive for the shooting was believed to be a monetary dispute. The search for Morales culminated in a dramatic confrontation with law enforcement in Pennsylvania. After brandishing a firearm and refusing to surrender, Morales was shot multiple times by officers before being taken into custody.
Following his apprehension, Anthony Morales was indicted on murder charges for the deaths of Adelle and Anthony Rivera. He was scheduled for arraignment on June 22, 2016, and had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. The brutal nature of the crime and the loss of two members of the same family sent shockwaves through the Staten Island community, highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence.
