Crime & Safety
Gunman Arrested For Washington Heights Murder, Police Say
A man is accused of shooting 48-year-old Franklin Bello while he sat in his car on a Washington Heights street.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A man is facing charges for a deadly shooting that occurred last week in Washington Heights, police said.
Michael Velazquez, 33, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm, police said. He's accused of approaching 48-year-old Franklin Bello as the man sat in his car and shooting him multiple times.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday around 1:45 p.m. near the intersection of West 185th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, police said. Bello suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and was declared dead after being rushed to Columbia Presbyterian hospital, police said.
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The shooter was observed fleeing the scene and escaping into a building a few blocks away, police said. Police were unable to track the man down until Saturday.
Police did not reveal a motive for the shooting.
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Velazquez appeared in Manhattan criminal court Sunday and was held without bail, according to court records. His next appearance is scheduled for April 8.
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