He was shot to death while dancing on the street of New York: 62-year-old grandfather

Photo: Fernando Martinez / Fernando Martinez

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John Edwards died in front of his neighbors when he was hit by a stray bullet while celebrating Independence Day outside his residential building in the Bronx (NYC).

Edwards, 62, was shot to death in the chest in the arms of his best friend on a sidewalk in the Belmont neighborhood as neighbors tried in vain to save his life.

“We were here hanging out,” said to Daily News his friend Cesar Lebrón, 42, pointing out the scene the next day where a party turned into a tragedy. “He was a lovely person. He was genuine and everyone loved him.”

“He was part of the community, trying to stop gang violence,” said his son John Dixon, 40.

army veteran became collateral damage when a gunman opened fire on two other men who were wounded by the rain of bullets, both treated at St. Barnabas Hospital, the same facility where Edwards was pronounced dead.

According to police, Edwards was in the wrong place at the wrong time. when a gunman opened fire from a white Ford Taurus around 10:30 p.m. Monday. Moments earlier Edwards was dancing as local residents gathered outside in the final hours. of the long weekend.

The injured included a 23-year-old who was shot in the right leg and a 26-year-old wounded in the right arm, police said. Authorities said that they are looking for at least three people in connection with the shootingthe cause of which is unknown.

“I just don’t think so,” a neighbor who was a close friend of Edwards said in tears. “He would help you. You won’t find another person like him.”

NYPD released video last night showing three shots fired from a passenger side window as the car drives down the block. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information should call. at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) and in Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). also through the page crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by text message to 274637 (CRIMES), followed by TIP577. All communications are strictly confidential.

The New York police reported that 21 people were shot, leaving three dead in 14 shootings during Independence Day. Previously, from Friday to Sunday there was a 60% spike in shootings in New York.

After the rise in armed violence in 2020 and 2021, particularly among young gang members and/or victims, 2022 continues with the same trend, putting up a great challenge to the new mayor Adams, who since taking office in January has found obstacles within his own Democratic party y Black Lives Matter (BLM) leaders to face the crisis.

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