In the late hours of a Wednesday evening in Hell's Kitchen, a burst of violence shattered the city's usual rhythm. On June 4, 2025, 30-year-old Marco Reyes, a resident of the West Bronx, was found unconscious in front of 345 West 42nd Street, near Ninth Avenue. Police, responding to a 911 call at approximately 10:45 p.m., discovered Reyes with a gunshot wound to his head.
Paramedics rushed him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in critical condition, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The initial investigation painted a grim picture of a swift and brutal attack. A suspect, dressed entirely in black, was seen fleeing the scene towards Eighth Avenue. The area, a bustling part of Midtown Manhattan just steps from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, was quickly flooded with NYPD officers. Detectives began canvassing for witnesses and searching for surveillance footage that might shed light on the moments leading up to the fatal shooting. For weeks, the case remained a high priority for investigators as they worked to bring justice for Marco Reyes.
A significant breakthrough in the case came on July 25, 2025, when police arrested 21-year-old Jamel Williams of Johnstown, New York. Williams was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Reyes' death. Authorities alleged that Williams was the individual who shot Reyes in the head before making his escape. Following his arrest, Williams was walked out of the Midtown South Precinct by NYPD officers. The investigation into the motive behind the shooting was reported to be ongoing as the case moved toward the court system.
