Adolfo Carlos Gonzalez was shot twice in the chest at the break of dawn on June 21 at approximately 5:15 a.m., and died at Jacobi Hospital later in the day.
As a result, a spokesperson for the Bronx District Attorney confirmed that Antoine Lewis, 19, who police say knew the victim, was charged with second degree murder, first degree manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.
According to published reports, Gonzalez, 25, was a passenger in a friend’s car when the Acura was rear-ended by a Buick at White Plains Road and Van Nest.
Upon investigating the damage to his friend’s vehicle, Gonzalez and Buick’s driver got involved in a heated argument.
The fight appeared to have concluded when the Buick left the scene, but Lewis and several friends returned to the scene moments later, shooting Gonzalez before fleeing in a cab.
During a canvas of the area, investigators found the livery cab, where a gun wrapped in a towel was located, and spotted two people matching the description of the suspects.
Giving chase, 49th Precinct Detective Edgar Cordero eventually caught up with Lewis, who is believed to have known Gonzalez from the local community.
A search is still being conducted for his associates.
In the meantime, friends of Gonzalez held a vigil through the weekend into Monday morning around a makeshift memorial immediately created at the scene at the northwest corner of the intersection. They would not comment on the accident or Gonzalez, citing mischaracterizations of events in other media sources.
“We won’t talk to anyone, because they’ll just get it wrong,” one man said.
Some local residents and commuters were concerned about the ongoing memorial, as friends were drinking beer on the street as late as 7:30 a.m. on Monday, June 23 during the morning rush hour.
Commenting on a visibly intoxicated man who stumbled across White Plains Road with the help of a friend, one individual who would not give their name said, “It’s horrible that their friend was killed and everything, but I’m worried with this guy knocking into people all drunk. There’s little kids looking.”
Police are still searching for other suspects wanted in connection with the shooting. Anyone with information is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will remain anonymous.
