A beloved figure in his Bronx neighborhood, 78-year-old Edgar Spence, was tragically killed on the night of April 16, 2026, the victim of a stray bullet. Known affectionately by friends and neighbors as "Natural" and "Pops," Spence was a cherished member of the Mott Haven community where he had lived for over two decades. On that Thursday evening, he was sitting on a bench outside his home at the Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue, enjoying the warm weather and some candy, when gunfire erupted
around 10:30 p.m. A bullet struck him in the stomach, and he later succumbed to his injuries at Lincoln Hospital. Police have stated that Spence was not the intended target of the shooting.
The senseless act of violence has left his family and community in profound grief and disbelief. Those who knew him remembered Spence as the "grandfather on the block," a kind and respectful man who would give advice and look out for his neighbors. In the wake of his death, a makeshift memorial of candles, some arranged in the shape of an "N" for his nickname "Natural," was created on the bench where he was last seen alive. Community members and his family held a balloon release to honor his memory, mourning the loss of a man they considered a neighborhood icon.
As of late April 2026, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The New York Police Department has been investigating the incident and reviewing surveillance footage. Spence's family has expressed their frustration with the lack of progress in the investigation and has publicly called for city officials to intensify their efforts to find the person responsible for his death. In an effort to generate leads, community advocates have offered a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. The family continues to plead with the community for anyone with information to come forward and help bring justice for Edgar Spence.
