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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Elderly Man Killed Along Schuylerville's 'Devil's ...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Elderly Man Killed Along Schuylerville's 'Devil's ...:   (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene   BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 22- An elderly man visiting a doctor's office was struck a...

Elderly Man Killed Along Schuylerville's 'Devil's Curve'


 

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

 

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 22- An elderly man visiting a doctor's office was struck and killed as two or possibly three cars hit the victim as they sped past a busy intersection.

 

According to storefront surveillance video, Angel Luis Figueroa, 74, was crossing E. Tremont Avenue where Whittmore Avenue meets Puritan Avenue, at 7:32 a.m., on October 21.

 

Investigators say Figueroa, who had just moved his car for the alternate-side street cleaning rules to the opposite side of the road, where he put quarters in the meter-- when he was plowed into by a 1999 Dodge Durango heading east.

 

Figueroa was then thrown into oncoming traffic in the west bound lane where police were still investigating if he was hit by a Silver Nissan SUV, driven by a woman who briefly stopped, but kept going. Figueroa was then run over by a 2013 Nissan Altima.

 

Good Samaritan Louis LaMorte, 22, who called police and attempted to give aid, recalled, "When I got over to him he still had a pulse and I was calling 911, but when I called 911, they were having trouble finding where Puritan Avenue was."

 

LaMorte estimates the delay took three to four precious minutes, and an EMS ambulance arrived four-minutes later. Figueroa died at the scene.

 

"As soon as I got to him," LaMorte continued, "his mouth was open and he was bleeding out of the back of his head and his ear. I was checking his pulse on his wrist and right on his neck and he still had a pulse and then it lightened-up and that was it, he was gone."

 

Livery taxi driver Jose Perez who works for DAT Car Service was driving the black Nissan that eventually ran over Figueroa, told reporters at the scene, "I saw the guy crossing the street and somebody was coming from the opposite direction and hit him."

 

Perez claimed to have been cut-off by the female driver who eventually left the scene. Perez, who apparently had a passenger in his vehicle, grimly recalled, "I just ran over him, pulled over to the right."

 

After several hours, police would eventually place handcuffs on the still-unidentified driver of the Durango, for reportedly driving with a suspended license. It's believed the female driver who fled the scene was also being questioned by police, but as of Tuesday, October 22, no charges had yet been filed.

 

According to Anna Diaz, 33, one of Figueroa's three daughters, he had worked for 40-years at the Manhattan Psychiatric Hospital before his retirement. He continued to stay busy, taking care of his blind wife, transporting his grandchildren to school and volunteering at the Jasa Senior Center in Pelham Bay.

 

The distraught Diaz recalled, "He was a very good husband, a very good provider. He took care of us very, very well."

 

When told that one of the driver's may have been operating without a valid drivers license, Diaz asked, "Why would you put somebody's life at risk? You (the driver) took somebody away from me that I need and now is no longer there."

 

Diaz continued, "If you’re not supposed to drive, don't drive. I don't wish him any harm, or anything, because I'm not that kind of person, but you just took away my life right now, he was all I had."

 

Besides now having to make funeral arrangements, the family was wondering how to break the news to Figueroa's two grandchildren, ages 5 and 8.

 

Diaz stated that Figueroa had an appointment at the Throggs Neck Medical Care facility and had moved his car for the street-sweeper and had moved the car to the opposite side of the street, adding, "He was worried about getting tickets."

 

Area residents call the three-block stretch of E. Tremont Avenue, from Baisley Avenue to Waterbury Avenue, 'The Devil's Curve," because of the winding roadway that has claimed at least two other lives in the last decade.

 

Meanwhile, a group of cyclists called, 'Right of Way,' have begun spray-painting street corners, drawing outlines resembling the chalk outlines once used by police, in an effort to bring attention to the number of children who are struck and killed on city roadways.

 

Currently the eight markers around the city also include the first name and age of a child and many also have the words, "No criminality suspected." Apparently referring to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, they are also writing the words, "Why, Ray, Why?"  

Monday, October 21, 2013

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Man Gunned Down on His Birthday

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Man Gunned Down on His Birthday: Came Back to Bx to Celebrate Will Leave in a Coffin (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- A young man retu...

Man Gunned Down on His Birthday


Came Back to Bx to Celebrate Will Leave in a Coffin
(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- A young man returning to his old neighborhood of Morrisania to celebrate his 29th birthday with family and friends, was gunned-down outside of the John Adams Houses.

Police sources say two men in their 20's were outside of 680 Tinton Avenue, when they were approached by two assailants and gunfire erupted at  6:08 p.m. on October 18.

One detective stated, "Two male Blacks walked up (on the two victims) and started shooting and left the location." The two men were shot at the entrance to the building.

A second source stated the two suspects calmly walked north on Tinton towards Westchester Avenue and the Jackson Avenue subway station.

One victim in his 20's was shot in the chest and died on the way to Lincoln Hospital. The second victim, also in his 20's was shot in the leg and was recovering at the same hospital.

Police would later identify the victim as Tyrek Singleton, 28, of the Bronx.

However, family and friends of Singleton stated that the young man had moved to Pottstown, PA.

A longtime friend clarified, stating, "He had gotten out of the neighborhood and was living in Pennsylvania, but he came back to celebrate his birthday. He's going to be 29..."

The distraught friend who declined to give his name, and only referred to Singleton by his street name, "S.P.," thought for a second before correcting himself, adding, "He was going to be 29 tomorrow, I can't believe this."

Friends say Singleton was a construction worker who loved to play basketball.

Officers from the 40th Precinct closed-off the main entrance to the building and the complex's courtyard and adjoining park as investigators combed the area for shell-casings and other evidence.

Police were looking for the two suspects, both described as male Blacks in their 20's. One suspect, a skinny male, wearing a white hooded jacket and blue jeans. The second assailant was wearing a gray hooded jacket and dark jeans.

Investigators say both men are still being sought and are both believed to be between 5 foot 8 and 5 foot 9.

Answering the door to the family home on E. 152 Street, Singleton's niece Lavasia Burnett, 18, stated while choking back tears, "There's no reason why he's here celebrating his birthday and we have to identify his body."

Hours after the killing a patrol car was still stationed outside the building, when a man from the church across the street asked the officer if he could move his car, as a wedding party was about to exit the church.

When the officer replied that he could not, church officials moved a bus in front of the church, blocking the view of the police car.

The police presence would remain for the immediate future as police sources say that officers from the 40th Precinct and Public Service Area 7, which covers New York City Housing Authority property, were said to be on a heightened alert for retaliatory violence.

The New York City Housing Authority has reportedly been sitting on more than $40 million in taxpayer money for the instillation of surveillance cameras at complex's such as the John Adams Houses.

The immediate area surrounding the John Adams Houses has been a longtime magnet for mayhem.

Back on July 5, Jamal Davis, 33, was fatally shot on the basketball courts at 975 Tinton Avenue.

On July 20, a second unidentified man was shot in the chest and back along Tinton Avenue, but survived. Police continue to hunt for the killers of both Davis and now Singleton.   

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Author Represents at Comic Con 2013

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Author Represents at Comic Con 2013: By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 14- Comic Con 2013 took place from Thursday October 19 th through Sunday October 13 th...

Bronx Author Represents at Comic Con 2013




By Robert Press


BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 14- Comic Con 2013 took place from Thursday October 19th through Sunday October 13th at the Javitts Center. This is the second largest Comic themed show only to Comic Con San Diego, where Hollywood is involved. On my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com are reports of the three days that I visited Comic Con 2013. Each day I tried to do a different theme. Friday I spent all day on the exhibit floor. Saturday I was in Artist Alley to be with the people as some paid big bucks to get an autograph or photo with one of their favorite stars. Sunday I was part of the WWE Halloween panel which got to interview two wrestling stars and others that help make the many different films from WWE Entertainment.


Over 3,000 booths were set up, which had almost everything that anyone would want. Some booths handed out free items, while others were at Comic Con to sell you the items you wanted. The big toy, comic, and other companies had larger booths where they showed off their latest games, books, toys, comic books creators who were signing their work (for free or a fee), cars (Chevy), or other collectible items. It took all day to visit all the booths that were set up, and speak to many of those at the booths. I was looking for a Bronx connection, and found two.





My first Bronx connection was Bronx Author Da'Ghen who had some of his work on display (his photo is on the first day of Comic Con on my blog). Da'Ghen said that he is associated with Magnum Comics of North Riverdale, and you can find him there every Wednesday. My second Bronx connection was Ms. Lisa Amowitz of Riverdale the author of "Breaking Glass" a Spencer Hill Press book who was at the company booth with a few of the other authors. A photo of the ladies is right next to Da'Ghen on my blog. Other photos on my blog from Friday were an overview of part of Comic Con 2013, some authors signing, a couple or former wrestlers signing or taking pictures (for a fee), people being made up, several people who came dressed as their favorite characters, and in the middle on the bottom a Thoroughly Modern Millie.
(Photos by Robert Press)


Saturday was the day I wanted to get photos of the big stars as they were signing in artist alley. My first problem was that there were signs posted by William Shatner, Gillian Anderson, and a few other stars that said “NO PHOTOS”. On my blog listing for Comic Con Saturday you can find a listing of some of the stars who were in Artist Alley, but there were also many who came at the last minute and were not listed. Look at the next photo for the prices that Hulk Hogan was charging for an autograph or photo with him, and the line was a block long. However as you will see in the next two photos the Hulkster came out from his booth to chat with a young lady in a wheel chair, autograph a photo for her, and pose with her for a photo.





At the other end of this floor were other former wrestlers, The Batmobile, the Deloreon from Back to the Future, and the Ghostbusters car complete with a giant “Stay Puff Marshmallow Man” and Mr. Ernie Hudson to have your picture taken with (for a fee). I found a band of real looking Ghostbusters nearby, met the Geico Gecko, some of the babes dressed in their favorite costumes, a real Playboy Bunny, and even a man who was dressed as Wonder Woman (the worst costume I saw that day). He was back on Sunday in a mermaid costume that is in Sunday's blog listing.


Sunday I was part of the WWE STUDIOS' HALLOWEEN HORROR INTERVIEW SESSION where the panel was able to sit down with wrestling stars Kane and Hornswaggle and others from the WWE Studios. WWE Studios is a part of the very successful Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment company, and along with the wrestling stars the president of WWE Studios Mr. Michael Luisi, the Soska Sisters (Co-Directors of SEE NO EVIL 2), and Mr. Zach Lipovsky (Director of LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS) the latest movie from WWE Studios that features Hornswaggle as the main character.



Five tables were set up for the interviews, and the stars of WWE rotated amongst the tables to talk to us and answer our questions. The Soska Sisters who are identical twins talked about how it was to direct Kane in his movie See No Evil II, and of their dream of challenging the WWE Bella Twins in the ring. WWE Studios President Michael Luisi told us that unlike the PG14 rated television shows the movies are rated R due to all the gore and violence. He said that there will be an upcoming animated movie for Wrestlemania called Scooby Doo and the Gang go to Wrestlemaina with many of the voices being that of WWE wrestlers including that of current WWE Woman's Champion A.J. The producer of the latest WWE film Leprechaun Origins Mr. Zach Lipovsky told us that this movie takes place in the modern day and is pure horror that will have people jumping out of their seats. The star of the movie is WWE wrestler Hoenswaggle who told us that he already wants to do the sequel. Hornswaggle has been wrestling for 7 years now, and has not had a major injury unlike some other wrestlers, and when asked who his favorite female wrestler was he answered all of them. Kane told us when asked how he has survived so long in wrestling (his debut was in 1992) and the WWE. He said one has to be dependable, work hard, and give it your all 100 percent of the time. As for the one match that he received his worst injury he said it was the steel cage match with Triple H where X-PAC slammed the cage door on his head, and that he still has a scar from it. Yes Kane is a big man at 7 foot tall, but he also has a heart as he told us of his feelings after his former manager Paul Bearer passed away. He shook our hands as he left and the interview session was over.
I went back on to the exhibit floor to get a few more final photos of Comic Con 2013, and on the way out I met a man dressed as Santa Claus who said Christmas is right around the corner to me.




Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Schools Yale

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Schools Yale: Rams 8-0 for First Time in School History BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- Chances are Joe Moorhead will not even dominate the topic of conver...