On the evening of September 29, 2023, a simmering dispute between neighbors in Washington Heights, New York City, erupted into deadly violence, claiming the lives of 57-year-old White/Caucasian female Jacqueline "Jackie" Billini, her friend, and her beloved dog. Billini, a dedicated employee of the New York State court system for over three decades, was walking her pit bull, Zeus, accompanied by her friend, 42-year-old Levaughn Harvin, near West 165th Street and Edgecombe Avenue.
The walk was a measure of precaution, as Billini had grown fearful for her life due to escalating aggression from her neighbor.
The suspect in this triple homicide was identified as 31-year-old Lenue Moore, who lived in the same apartment building as Billini. Their feud, primarily centered on the barking of Billini's dogs, had a documented history of violence. In the months preceding the fatal shooting, the situation had grown increasingly volatile. Moore had previously been arrested for a violent encounter on April 11, 2023, during which he allegedly broke into Billini's apartment, assaulted another individual with a hammer, and broke Billini's arm. Following this incident, Moore was charged with burglary and assault and an order of protection was issued against him. Despite this, he was released on bail, a decision that left Billini in a state of constant fear.
Tragically, on that September evening, Billini's fears were realized. As she, Harvin, and Zeus walked, an assailant, later identified as Moore, approached them from behind and fired approximately 12 shots. The sudden and brutal attack left Billini, Harvin, and Zeus with fatal injuries. Following the shooting, Moore fled the scene, sparking a nearly month-long manhunt. Law enforcement officials tracked him to various locations, recovering a firearm believed to be the murder weapon from an apartment in Queens on October 10, though Moore was not present at the time.
The search for Moore concluded on October 26, 2023, when he was discovered hiding under a bed in a Brooklyn apartment and taken into custody. He was subsequently indicted on a litany of charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated criminal contempt, and aggravated cruelty to animals. The tragic deaths of Jackie Billini, Levaughn Harvin, and Zeus highlighted the devastating consequences of a neighborhood dispute that spiraled into a violent and preventable tragedy, leaving a community to mourn the loss of a vibrant and compassionate woman and her loyal companions.
