In the Belmont section of the Bronx, a life that once garnered praise for a heroic act was tragically cut short. Achilles Baskin, a 25-year-old male, was fatally shot in broad daylight on Sunday, February 26, 2023. The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Bathgate Avenue and East 183rd Street, a location already marred by past violence.
Reports indicate that a dispute preceded the fatal encounter. An unidentified individual engaged in a confrontation with Baskin before drawing a firearm and shooting him multiple times, with at least one bullet striking him in the head. The assailant then fled the scene on foot along Bathgate Avenue. Emergency services were promptly called, and upon arrival, police found Baskin unconscious and unresponsive. He was rushed to the nearby St.
Barnabas Hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The New York City Police Department is actively investigating the homicide and has sought the public's assistance in identifying the shooter. Surveillance footage from the area captured images of the suspect, who is described as a male in his mid-40s, approximately 5'8' tall, and weighing around 175 pounds. At the time of the incident, he was seen wearing all-black clothing, a black-and-blue coat, and a black fanny pack. As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Achilles Baskin.
Years before his untimely death, at the age of 14, Baskin was lauded as a hero for his attempt to intervene in a 2011 incident where two other youths pushed a shopping cart from a parking garage, severely injuring a woman. His death has left his family and community in shock and mourning, remembering both the boy who tried to do the right thing and the young man whose life was violently taken.
