In the early morning hours in the Bronx, a dispute between two men escalated into a fatal encounter, leaving one dead and the other facing a lifetime behind bars. The victim was a 24-year-old man named Roderick Romney. The tragic events unfolded following an argument that began at a local restaurant and spilled out into the street, culminating in a senseless act of violence that cut a young life short.
The conflict reportedly began at the El Mangu Sabroso Restaurant on West Kingsbridge
Road. An argument ensued between Roderick Romney and another man, identified as 29-year-old Jason Delgado. As the two men left the establishment, the verbal altercation continued. At some point, Delgado allegedly told Romney he would be back before heading to his nearby apartment on University Avenue. True to his word, Delgado returned, but this time he was armed with a. 38-caliber revolver.
At approximately 4:58 a.m., in front of 2766 University Avenue, Delgado fired a single shot, striking Romney in the throat. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Romney was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at 7:30 a.m. A neighbor of Romney's mentioned that the victim and his alleged killer had been friends. Romney had lived in the building with his parents for over two decades.
Following the shooting, officers from the 50th Precinct began an immediate search of the area. A witness was able to identify Jason Delgado, leading to his swift apprehension in the vicinity of the crime scene. After his arrest, police recovered the revolver believed to have been used in the shooting under a parked car near the scene. Delgado was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. He was questioned for nearly 13 hours at the 50th Precinct before the charges were filed. This incident marked the first murder in the 50th Precinct for that year.
