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Prosecutors Say Suspect Went Back to Kill Pace Student
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 4, 2008
Modified Sep 4, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 4, 2008
Modified Sep 4, 2008
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Yesterday, Jeromie Cancel, suspected of killing 19-year-old Kevin Pravia, was arraigned in court. Prosecutors offered some new details about the crime, saying Cancel originally simply stole Pravia's electronics and almost left the West 15th Street apartment but went back to smother the Pace University student in his sleep.
Cancel, 22, met Pravia early Saturday morning in Union Square, and when they went back to Pravia's apartment, Pravia fell asleep. Cancel initially decided to only steal his iPod, laptop and cell phone (which he later sold on the street) and it's unclear why he decided to kill Pravia. Prosecutors described the murder, saying Cancel "picked up a cord and tied the cord around the deceased's neck... The defendant punched the deceased... grabbed a plastic bag, placed the bag in the deceased's mouth, and put his hand on the deceased's nose to stop the deceased from breathing."
Cancel is being charged with first-degree murder. The Daily News reports he "giggled," "fidgeted and laughed" during the arraignment. His father, Jesus Soto, said, "You don't take someone's life like that. He deserves what he gets." Soto was later seen leaving flowers outside of Pravia's apartment building with a card reading, "To Kevin's family: Our condolences. Jesus Soto (and) Annette Laureano."
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Jeromie Cancel
Kevin Pravia
murder
pace university
West 15th Street
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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