On a summer morning in New York City, 74-year-old Fermin Frito, a male of Hispanic/Latino descent, was fatally shot in what police believe was a targeted attack. The incident occurred on July 12, 2024, at the chess tables in Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, a location where Frito was reportedly known to be involved in the sale of crack cocaine and heroin.
The shooting, which took place shortly before 10 a.m., also resulted in injury to 44-year-old Edwin 'Chunky' Rivera, who was described as Frito's 'steerer.' Rivera was shot in the back but managed to flee to a nearby deli and survived.
Emergency responders found Frito at the scene and administered CPR before rushing him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that morning. The New York Police Department's investigation into the shooting pointed to a turf war between rival drug dealers as a likely motive. They identified Frito as the intended target of the violence. The area in the park where the shooting happened has been known for previous incidents of violence, including other shootings earlier in the year.
Nearly two weeks after the fatal shooting, on July 25, 2024, the NYPD arrested two suspects in connection with the case. Angel Sardina, 63, and Rafael Macias, also 63, were taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder. Both men have extensive criminal histories. Sardina has prior convictions for assault, robbery, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Macias also has a record that includes a robbery conviction. Following the arrests, police closed off the chess tables in Tompkins Square Park and increased their presence in the area to deter further violence.
