In the early morning hours of July 16, 2026, chaos erupted inside the M Lounge and Restaurant on Jerome Avenue in the Fordham section of the Bronx. Amid the turmoil, 29-year-old Yeimy Reyes was fatally shot in the head. Police responded to a call about an assault at approximately 4:26 a.m. and found Reyes, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Surveillance footage from outside the establishment captured the frantic moments after the gunshots, with crowds of people rushing out into the street.
Reyes's wife, Michelle, later shared that her husband, a local DJ, had been inside the lounge that night selling sunglasses.
The investigation into the death of Yeimy Reyes quickly identified a suspect. Police released images of 24-year-old Luis Aguero, naming him as the alleged gunman. As the manhunt for Aguero began, details emerged that complicated the investigation at the crime scene. The New York State Liquor Authority launched its own probe into the M Lounge. According to the SLA, surveillance footage showed staff members carrying Reyes's body from the basement, placing him on the sidewalk, and then cleaning the crime scene before the police arrived. This interference led to the emergency suspension of the lounge's liquor license.
Further investigation by the State Liquor Authority revealed a host of violations at the M Lounge, including the fact that the basement was not part of the licensed premises and that multiple people inside were armed on the night of the shooting. The lounge now faces 21 violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, including failure to supervise and operating a disorderly premise. While the establishment faces legal repercussions, the man identified as the shooter, Luis Aguero, remains at large. The case is ongoing, with law enforcement continuing their search for the suspect as they piece together the events that led to the deadly shooting. No arrests have been made, and consequently, there have been no convictions or sentencing in the death of Yeimy Reyes.
