Suspect Still Loose in Slashing, Burning Murder Near East New York: NYPD

The murder suspect. Photos courtesy of the NYPD

By SIMONE WILSON and JOHN V. SANTORE

CYPRESS HILLS, BROOKLYN — NYPD detectives are still searching for 17-year-old Jahkeem Scott (pictured above), their lead suspect in the gruesome Jan. 22 murder of 61-year-old resident Romulo Heras.

Early that morning, Heras was found unconscious inside his burning apartment at 59 Logan St., according to police.

He had apparently been slashed across the throat by his murderer, according to the New York Daily News.

The NYPD soon ruled Heras' death a homicide. And by the following week, on Jan. 29, they had identified Scott as their No. 1 suspect.

On a GoFundMe page set up to cover his funeral costs, Heras' niece, Jessica, remembered her "dear uncle" as an amazing person" who left behind "a wife, a five year old daughter, an18 year old daughter, an older daughter, son and four grandchildren."

"Life is unfair at times and you did not deserve this,but we know that you loved us and we love you to.o," she wrote. "Thank you for being the amazing person you were. We will always keep you in our hearts Tio !"

Photos posted to Heras' Facebook page show him spending the holidays with his kids and grandkids.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or the murder can confidentially report it on the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers website, or anonymously call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Los hispanohablantes pueden llamar 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be text-messaged to the NYPD by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.