On a late Thursday evening in Phoenix, Arizona, the life of 27-year-old Justin 'New York' Gerena was tragically cut short. On June 4, 2015, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Gerena was sitting at a bus stop on the southwest corner of 27th Avenue and Northern with two other individuals. The seemingly ordinary night took a violent turn when an unknown Black male, standing on the opposite side of the street, began shouting obscenities at one of the people at the bus stop.
The verbal aggression
escalated to deadly violence when the man pulled out a handgun and opened fire on the group. Both Justin Gerena and another individual were struck by the gunfire, while the third person managed to escape without injury. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Gerena was rushed to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The second victim was also transported to the hospital and was expected to survive.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Phoenix Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. The suspect was described only as a Black male. Authorities appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward and contact Silent Witness, offering a reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for Justin Gerena's death. The investigation into the senseless act of violence remains ongoing as those who knew and loved Gerena await answers and justice.
