The Bronx recently witnessed a grim episode of violence, adding to the growing concern about gun violence in New York City. Jose Andres Rodriguez Gomez, a 47-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, was tragically shot dead on Sunday evening, only a short distance from his residence in Morris Heights.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), the incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Popham Avenue, a usually quiet Bronx street. Responding to a distress 911 call, authorities discovered Gomez inside his SUV, riddled with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.
Moving to New York for a new beginning
Mercedes Rodriguez, Gomez’s grieving sister, spoke of her brother’s recent relocation to New York. Having moved from Florida for employment opportunities, Gomez had been a New York resident for merely two months.
Talking to the Daily News through a translator, Mercedes recounted, “Only two months he was [here]. He doesn’t smoke. He doesn’t drink. Only talking, he liked to talk.” She added, “[I feel] very bad. He was a good person and a good brother.”
Fateful night
Eyewitness accounts painted a terrifying sequence of events. An unidentified gunman approached Gomez’s double-parked SUV shortly after alighting from his vehicle. Firing what sounded like “four pops,” as described by a nearby witness, the assailant unleashed four or five .40-caliber bullets into Gomez.
Following the brutal attack, the perpetrator hastily retreated to his vehicle, fleeing the crime scene. The NYPD, drawing from witnesses and preliminary investigations, believe the shooter had parked his SUV just a block from where Gomez was stationed.
In the same category:
- One dead and another injured after drunk driving incident on New Kingston Road in Middletown
- Masked cyclist fatally shoots octagenarian on Ogden Avenue in Highbridge, then flees the scene
- Mother of two stabbed in the neck and killed during a domestic fight on Holland Ave. in Allerton, The Bronx
Gomez’s life couldn’t be saved despite immediate medical intervention. Emergency medical services rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital, but the extent of his injuries proved fatal.
A spate of Bronx violence
This incident isn’t an isolated one. Gun violence incidents in the Bronx have been on the uptick. Enriqueta Rivera Meléndez, a young grandmother, was shot in broad daylight amidst an alleged gang conflict in Mott Haven earlier this month.
Following her tragic demise, a 21-year-old male has been apprehended as a potential suspect. In another heart-wrenching incident, an 8-year-old boy was shot while alighting from a school bus. This surge in violence led Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark to exclaim, “This has to stop passionately. That’s bullets in the skin. Enough is enough. This is happening in broad daylight. We need help.”
Call for information
As investigations continue, authorities have yet to identify suspects or make arrests. The NYPD has encouraged anyone with pertinent information to come forward. Tips can be submitted by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline, visiting their website, or through the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app. All provided information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
The Bronx, and the city at large, grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident, serving as a stark reminder of the escalating concerns around gun violence.