Family 'Shocked' After Woman Shot To Death In Stairwell Of Bronx Building
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The family of a 21-year-old woman who was found fatally shot in the stairwell of an apartment building in the Bronx say they are "shocked" by her death.
A suspect was arrested and charged in the shooting late Tuesday.
Patrick Murray did his best to put into words the pain he and his family are feeling after getting the phone call that his 21-year-old stepdaughter, Aaliyah Alder, had been killed.
"We were so sad, we were so shocked, we were so hurt," he said. "It is so sad and we're not feeling good right now because we can't bring back her life."
Alder had left work in Manhattan and had apparently stopped to see friends Monday night at a building on Tinton Avenue, part of the Forest Houses, that is less than two miles away from her family's home.
Around 10:30 p.m. Monday, police said they received a 911 call reporting gunfire from inside the building. When emergency responders arrived, police said they found Alder in an eighth floor stairwell with a single bullet in her head.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sources say Alder, whose boyfriend lives in the building, was seen on video with a woman and four men outside before they all take the elevator to the ninth floor, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
Later, cameras show three men leaving, one of them believed to be the gunman, Burrell reported.
Murray said his stepdaughter had dreams of modeling, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
"She wanted to do modeling, you know. She didn't start modeling yet," he said. "She was a good person."
Her friends have also taken to social media posting grief-stricken messages, saying they can't believe her life was taken in an instant, WCBS 880's Myles Miller reported.
The shooting left many residents on edge.
"It's not good because you don't know who did it," said resident Cornelia Calhoun. "You don't know."
"I'm scared for my life," said resident Kesha Hyman. "I'm scared for my life, for me and kids."
Police said Davaughn Johnson, 22, was charged with murder and manslaughter late Tuesday in connection with the shooting. Police identified him as one of the victim's friends, 1010 WINS reported.