2 arrested in Bronx stray-bullet shooting that killed 61-year-old Juana Perdomo Soriano
NEW YORK -- Police on Friday announced the arrests of two men who were charged in the stray-bullet shooting death of 61-year-old Juana Perdomo Soriano in the Bronx on Monday.
Donald Johnson, 20, and Rakell Hampton, 33, were charged with murder. Hampton, Johnson's older brother, was released on bond for a previous charge on the day Soriano was killed, CBS2's Kevin Rincon reported.
"As I said at the scene of this crime, this is another example of pointless violence on the streets of our city. Criminals cannot act with impunity," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
Johnson and Hampton are brothers, both have lengthy criminal records and are known members of the Bloods gang, police said.
"There are additional suspects involved in this incident who will also be held accountable for their actions in the coming days," said Sewell.
Soriano's death came less than a week after 12-year-old Kade Lewin was fatally struck by a stray bullet in Brooklyn, and just days before that, a 3-year-old was shot in the shoulder while leaving day care but survived.
Soriano was not the intended target when two groups opened fire on each other down the block from her on 188th Street off the Grand Concourse. Days after the shooting, her sons pleaded for justice and an end to gun violence.
Investigators said the shooting was sparked by an argument.
"A dispute in which we believe involving vendors and Blood gang members occurred in front of 150 East 188th Street," NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said.
One vendor had a gun, and that's when the suspects pulled out their firearms, according to Essig.
"Mr. Johnson fires his weapon five times. Our innocent victim is struck in the back. The vendor, the intended victim, flees into the subway and the two others intended flee in a white SUV," Essig said.
Charges against Johnson and Hampton include homicide, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police were still trying to identify the three people who ran, including the vendor, as well as a third person who was with the brothers.