Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Shoots Wife On Christmas Morning After She Reportedly Asked For Divorce
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 26, 2015
Modified Dec 26, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 26, 2015
Modified Dec 26, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Police are looking for a Bronx man who they believe shot his wife on Christmas morning because she was seeking a divorce.
Cops say that 37-year-old suspect Rafael Herrera shot his wife of 11 years, 27-year-old Yadira Perea Saavedra, sometime before 10 a.m. on Friday morning inside their home on E. 220th Street in Williamsbridge. Saavedra was struck by a single bullet, which went through her arm and into her neck. She was transported to Jacobi Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition.
The couple's two children, ages 10 and 8, were asleep upstairs when the shooting happened.
According to Saavedra's brother Sergio Saavedra, who lives in the same building with his wife and two kids, Saavedra had asked for a divorce recently. "He said a lot, 'I wanna kill you, I wanna kill you,' but I never believed he would do this," the brother told the Daily News.
He also told the Post that the couple had hosted a Christmas Eve party in their apartment that lasted until about 2 a.m. "He was very quiet. He didn’t talk, nothing," Sergio said of Herrera. "I saw in his face, something was different. Other times when we make celebrations he’s happy, but last night he was very quiet."
Other neighbors added that they had no idea the couple had been fighting: "I never heard any argument before," one told the News. "I’m shocked. He’s a quiet guy. I’m surprised to learn he has a gun."
Cops say that Herrera was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans, and was armed with a firearm. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
Tagged
bronx
christmas
divorce
nypd
police
shooting
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Trump administration sends election monitors to NYC, NJ
The administration had previously said it planned to send 1,000 monitors nationwide.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Nov 3, 2026 at 12:06 p.m. ET
Child dies in raging Upstate New York measles outbreak
It’s the first measles death in the state in 30 years.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Child dies in raging Upstate New York measles outbreak
It’s the first measles death in the state in 30 years.
By
Caroline Lewis
Medicaid is changing. We want to hear from NYers about what's ahead.
By
Caroline Lewis
A typo. A missing screw. These are the small snags keeping NYC families in shelters.
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Why Sweetgreen is pivoting to wraps
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .