Teen Arrested for Shooting Autistic Man in Bronx Park

A teenage boy was taken into custody after an autistic man was fatally shot during a failed robbery at a Bronx park. The victims’ sister has shared new information about the heartbreaking incident.

Luis Castillo, 19, faces murder charges and related offenses, following the earlier arrest of his alleged accomplice Axel Martinez, 20, who was apprehended last month in connection with the killing of 26-year-old Ronel Marte.

Marte was reportedly shot in the chest and was found unresponsive at Starlight Park on East 174th Street shortly before 3 a.m. on September 4, as noted by law enforcement.

His sister, Nerlovy Marte, explained that her brother was taking a shortcut home after working a shift at an Amazon warehouse in Hunts Point.

“Ronel was just the last person you’d expect to end up in a situation like this. He was walking home from work… he’d just finished the late shift that ended at 11 p.m.,” she recounted. “He probably didn’t think too much about walking through the park at that hour. Even with his autism, he was quite high-functioning.”

“People with kind hearts often don’t realize that others might not share that same kindness,” she added.

According to officials and family, Castillo and Martinez reportedly tried to steal Marte’s cell phone prior to the shooting. Interestingly, Marte had previously been advised by his mother to leave his wallet at home during outings.

“He only had his cell phone, which they took,” Nerlovy shared, reflecting on her mother’s protective instincts. “That day, his wallet was still at home. He listened to her.”

He is remembered fondly as a devoted family member and a gifted artist with aspirations of becoming a graphic designer.

“He had a hard time expressing his feelings verbally, but his actions always spoke volumes,” Nerlovy said.

Authorities indicated that Martinez is alleged to have fired the shot while Castillo was involved in the attempted robbery.

Notably, just prior to this incident, Castillo and Martinez are believed to have targeted a 21-year-old man for robbery around 12:30 a.m. on the Cross Bronx Expressway.

Martinez was arrested on September 18. Both he and Castillo are facing charges that include murder, manslaughter, robbery, and weapon possession.

While Castillo was remanded in custody on Tuesday, Martinez is set to make an appearance in a Bronx courtroom on Wednesday.