Two Killed in East Harlem Apartment Shooting
Police found a 55-year-old aide and her 66-year-old client dead in a 14th-floor unit on Thursday night.
By Amina Howard ·
Two people died in a shooting at a Manhattan apartment on Thursday night.
Police received a call around 8:30 p.m. about two victims found dead in a 14th-floor apartment at Second Avenue near East 104th Street. Officers discovered Elsa Espina-Espinal, 55, and Wilgen Elias Severino-Tatis, 66, with gunshot wounds to the head. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified Espina-Espinal as a home health aide to Severino-Tatis. Detectives said they have not recovered a weapon and have not determined a motive. The person responsible is still on the run.
Espina-Espinal’s daughter, Elly Santana, described the two as family. She said her mother worked three jobs and had been weeks away from retirement. “We don’t want to question God, but not like this. She did not deserve that,” Santana said. “She deserved so much. She worked three jobs. She buried her son 18 years ago, and now we bury her.”
Santana said the family had planned a dinner on the 5th of the month to celebrate her mother’s upcoming retirement on December 7. “The 7th of December. We had a dinner planned on the 5th to go out to celebrate and send her off to her retirement,” Santana said.
Neighbors expressed shock over the deaths of Severino-Tatis. Building tenant Cindy Rosa called him funny, friendly, and respectful. “What did he do that he deserved a bullet in the head?” Rosa asked. Assistant building manager Shameya Muniz said the building community is close-knit and devastated. “Just make sure we’re keeping everybody comfortable and ensuring them that they’re still safe here,” Muniz said.
The NYPD is asking the public to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or 1-888-57-PISTA for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website or by direct message on X at @NYPDTips.
