A murder suspect in the Bronx, who fatally shot a man during a local brawl over the weekend, was allegedly summoned to the scene by his wife, as stated by prosecutors and officials.
The victim, Randy Blanche, 24, was shot on Sunday night by Marcos Rodriguez, who is currently on the run, near West 174th Street and Popham Avenue in Morris Heights, according to law enforcement reports.
Documents reveal that Rodriguez acted after his wife, Denise Aponte, 59, became involved in an altercation and called him to come outside.
Aponte reportedly urged Rodriguez via phone, saying, “come downstairs. Get down here.”
Upon arriving, Rodriguez allegedly opened fire, hitting Blanche in the head, as prosecutors detailed in the complaint.
Blanche, who resided over a mile away, was taken to BronxCare Hospital but succumbed to his injuries there, officials confirmed.
Aponte was arrested the next day and has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and weapon possession, according to police.
During her arraignment on Tuesday, she was ordered held without bail, prosecutors noted.
Aponte’s daughter defended her mother when speaking to the media over an intercom, asserting that her mother had no involvement in the incident. “All the information you have is wrong,” she stated. “They charged the wrong person. My mother is a good person, a hard-working woman. She stays out of trouble.”
Neighbors expressed shock at the news of Aponte’s arrest. One neighbor, known only as Steve, called the situation surprising, mentioning that she was a regular, friendly presence in the neighborhood. “It doesn’t seem like she’s doing anything wrong,” he remarked.
Witnesses reported that police had forcibly accessed the building, breaking the front door glass during their investigation.
In a somber reflection, Blanche’s mother, Shonta Johnson, said simply, “he was my world.”
