In the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, a tragic event unfolded on the eve of Valentine's Day in 1993, resulting in the death of 15-year-old Christopher Hernandez and five others. The brutal killings, which would become known as the 'St. Valentine's Day massacre,' were the result of a drug-related dispute. The assailants gained access to the apartment building on Prospect Avenue through a broken door, where they carried out the executions.
The other victims who lost their lives alongside
Christopher Hernandez were Edwin Santiago, 17, Annette Medina, 17, Julia Santana, 49, her daughter Maria Santana, 26, and Miguel Camacho Rivera, 23. The violence was reportedly aimed at settling a score with Edwin Santiago, who was a tenant in the building. A security guard who was supposed to be on duty was two hours late for his shift that day, and the front door's lock was described as 'weak,' allowing for easy entry. One of the convicted killers later testified that they would not have proceeded with the attack if the guard had been present.
In the aftermath of the killings, five men were arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the murders. The individuals convicted were Anthony Casellas, Luis Ramos, Eliot Lopez, Luis Romero, and Edgardo Rosado. In a separate legal action years later, a Bronx Supreme Court jury found the management company of the apartment building, Dearborne Management and Prospect Union Associates, partially liable for the deaths due to inadequate security. The jury ordered the landlords to pay a significant portion of a $16.4 million judgment to the victims' families.
