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2 men charged after daylight shooting at Tompkins Square Park, DA Bragg says
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 12, 2024
Modified Sep 13, 2024
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José A. Alvarado Jr. / Gothamist
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 12, 2024
Modified Sep 13, 2024
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Two men have been charged in connection with a deadly daylight shooting that took place at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village over the summer, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said on Thursday.
Authorities charged 63-year-old Rafael Macias and 63-year-old Angel Sardina with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the July incident, which resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another, officials said.
Their attorney information was not immediately available.
The shooting was one of several that have occurred in the park this year. Authorities had previously not disclosed a motive behind the incident, which killed 74-year-old Fermin Brito and injured a 44-year-old.
On Thursday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office said the incident was premeditated, with Macias and Sardina “in constant communication, speaking in person and over the phone, to plan the shooting,” according to court documents.
The pair allegedly fled the scene before being arrested on July 25, nearly two weeks after the incident, officials said.
“Our city’s parks should be safe spaces for all Manhattanites, and we will hold those accountable who endanger them with gun violence and illegal conduct,” Bragg said in a statement.
A comprehensive map of where recent shootings have occurred in the city — based on Gothamist's analysis of police data since 2020 — can be found here.
Tagged
east village
tompkins square park
public safety
manhattan
Alvin Bragg
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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