99-Year-Old Landlord Passes Away After Daylight Robbery

A 99-year-old landlord from Manhattan has passed away just weeks following a violent robbery in which he was held at gunpoint and lost $20,000, according to his grieving grandson, who expressed outrage over rising crime in the city.

Jose Antonio Tour died on Wednesday in hospice after suffering a stroke, as reported by his grandson, Jose Miguel Tour.

On September 22, Tour, a long-time landlord, was robbed of $20,000 in rent around 10 a.m. at his property located on West 187th Street near Audubon Avenue in Washington Heights. Police believe the robber had been monitoring the elderly man and threatened him with a gun.

Originally from Cuba, Mr. Tour, a former ship merchant, worked for eight years as a porter before purchasing the Washington Heights building in 1997.

Upon hearing about the robbery, Miguel was filled with anger regarding the lawlessness in New York City.

“It’s a mix of anger and disgust at how the city has changed, how justice feels absent, and how offenders seem to face no consequences,” Miguel noted. “There’s a sense that anything can happen, especially with the current state of affairs.”

He criticized the bail reform laws, describing them as fundamentally flawed.

Mr. Tour had previously experienced violence at another property he owned, shortly after bail reform was instituted in 2020. In that incident, an intruder with a criminal history attempted to enter his building.

In the recent robbery, the suspect tricked the elderly owner into meeting him to accept a package and then forced his way inside, as detailed by police.

During a tussle with the intruder, Tour hurt his hand, leading to severe injuries including a broken finger. The thief then entered the basement of the five-story building, held Tour at gunpoint, and stole a substantial amount of cash from his office.

Miguel confirmed that the robber managed to escape with the money but is currently in custody, although police have not verified any arrests yet.

Since the incident, Miguel has reached out to multiple local officials to express his concerns over bail reform and advocate for measures to reduce crime.

Remembering his grandfather, Miguel said that until the end, Mr. Tour was deeply committed to his work and to business development.

“His resilience was remarkable. He constantly looked for solutions, never losing hope or fear, always pushing forward,” Miguel reflected on his grandfather’s qualities.

“Money wasn’t his priority; he saw it merely as a tool for progress. He valued work above all.”