Crime & Safety
Suspect In Brazen Upper East Side Murder Is Arrested, Police Say
A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man is accused of pulling the trigger in the broad-daylight shooting on East 95th Street earlier this year.
UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Nearly six months after a broad daylight murder on the Upper East Side, police have arrested a 20-year-old man who is accused of pulling the trigger.
Isaiah Atkins, a resident of Allentown, Pa., was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in connection with the April 26 shooting of Chris Delinois, a 20-year-old Brooklyn resident.
The shooting happened just after 2 p.m. on a quiet stretch of East 95th Street, near Park Avenue. Police told the Daily News that Delinois was sitting in the backseat of a Honda SUV when he was shot by the unidentified gunman, following a botched drug deal.
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Footage shared by police showed the assailant leap out of the backseat of the car, then jog back and fire more shots into the vehicle. The driver began to speed away, only to crash into a parked car feet away.
Delinois, who was shot in the chest, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Find out what's happening in Upper East Sidefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The gunman fled on foot toward Lexington Avenue before heading uptown, police said. Authorities shared footage of the suspect, described only as a man wearing a black face mask and a black hooded sweater.
Atkins is being charged with murder, as well as robbery and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
WANTED for HOMICIDE
On Mon, April 26th at approx. 2:10pm, in front of 131 E 95th Street on the Upper East Side, suspect did shoot victim in chest causing his death.
Reward up to $2500 for info leading to an arrest. Call 800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTips. All calls are CONFIDENTIAL. pic.twitter.com/qrR8igSE7d
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) April 30, 2021
The April 26 shooting was one of two homicides on the Upper East Side this year, along with the Aug. 23 shooting at an auto shop on East 95th Street that killed Mario Gonzalez, the shop's manager. Police arrested Zachery Bryant, reportedly a disgruntled ex-employee, in connection with the shooting in September.
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