A man from Mount Vernon was taken into custody Wednesday night for allegedly killing his niece during an argument concerning an inherited house on a street in the Bronx, according to law enforcement sources.
Michael Foster, 58, is accused of shooting 39-year-old Julia Anderson multiple times in the abdomen as she attempted to enter a black Jeep in the Wakefield area on Monday night, police stated.
Anderson, who also resided in nearby Mount Vernon, was discovered lying on the ground outside a vehicle on Murdoch Avenue when officers arrived after a 911 report regarding the shooting.
She was transported to Jacobi Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries, according to police.
Sources indicated that the confrontation may have been sparked by disputes over the inherited home, as the uncle and niece lived together in Mount Vernon.
Later that evening, members of the NYPD’s crime scene unit were observed searching a residence on Bell Avenue in Westchester County linked to both individuals.
Investigators collected evidence in brown paper bags, took photographs, and inspected a gun case at the property.
Foster has been charged with multiple counts, including murder, manslaughter, and weapon possession.
Dressed in bright yellow shorts, socks, and sandals, he maintained a low profile as officers escorted him from the 47th Precinct in the Bronx to a police vehicle on Wednesday night.
He is currently awaiting arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court.
Julia Anderson’s mother, Beverly Patterson, shared with Fox5 that her daughter was a disability support worker and was about to celebrate her 40th birthday next month.
“She was a wonderful person,” Patterson remarked. “She resembled me, but I think she stood about six feet tall.” She added, “I don’t know. She went to work, and since then, I haven’t heard from her.”
