Outside a Bronx school near Sedgwick Ave. and W. Burnside Ave., Angel Rojas, a 30-year-old father of five and manager at a local Taco Bell, faced a fatal altercation last Thursday. “Nobody expected it,” voiced Jackie Gonzalez, the victim’s sister, in an emotional statement to the Daily News. “I didn’t even know he was arguing with anybody.”
Around 9:15 p.m., according to witnesses, Rojas engaged in a dispute with an unidentified man. The disagreement took a dark turn when the suspect brandished a firearm, releasing several shots that critically injured Rojas. In a desperate attempt to find safety, Rojas staggered back to his residence only to collapse on garbage bags by the sidewalk. The assailant subsequently escaped the scene in a gray Audi sedan.
Brie, a neighboring resident, recounted the harrowing scene, sharing, “I heard several gunshots. I noticed law enforcement was outside, and they were performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on him…I was so scared.” In an added twist of tragedy, Rojas’ mother-in-law witnessed her son-in-law’s final moments. Gonzalez narrated the chilling moments: “She heard gunshots and looked outside and saw him walking in that direction and just fell. She ran downstairs. She called 911. Everybody was calling 911.”
Search for Answers
Emergency responders swiftly transported Rojas to St. Barnabas Hospital, but their efforts were in vain. The aftermath left five children without a father. Authorities, during their investigation, discovered multiple shell casings at the crime scene. The motive behind this crime remains elusive, as does the relationship, if any, between Rojas and the assailant.
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Local law enforcement urges the public to assist in their investigation. Individuals with pertinent information can reach out to 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or in Spanish at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be sent through crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or via text message to 274637 (CRIMES), followed by TIP577. All shared information will remain confidential.
A Grim Pattern in the Bronx
This heart-wrenching incident isn’t isolated. A similarly tragic event unfolded in late August when another father of five was ambushed and stabbed in broad daylight. That same weekend bore witness to another grievous loss when a 40-year-old Dominican father became a victim of a violent altercation following a car crash on the Cross Bronx Expressway, leaving four more children fatherless.
This series of unfortunate events adds to the growing concern over safety in the Bronx, with families grieving and communities searching for answers.