“They’re not in the gang computer, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all because of some of the tattoos [Mr. Cruz] has,” the police source said. “They weren’t looking to rob anybody, they just wanted to shoot.”
The Bronx District Attorney’s office filed ten charges against Mr. Cruz, including attempted murder, assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.
Cops are still searching for three other men wanted for questioning in relation to the same shooting.
In that incident, police said Armando Rodriguez, 21, told them he heard a “tire squeak” as he and 21-year-old Hector Feliziano were approaching the building’s 3340 Bailey Ave. entrance, at around 2:10 a.m.
Mr. Rodriguez told police they were then fired at by a man in a dark-colored, four-door sedan. Three of the shots struck Mr. Rodriguez in the abdomen, right arm and left leg. Mr. Feliziano was hit in the right thigh, police said.
An NYPD source said Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Feliziano were not particularly cooperative. They didn’t find out about Mr. Feliziano until nearly two hours after the shooting.
Captain Burke said that in response to the violence, the 50th Precinct has kicked up patrols in the area immediately surrounding the Fort Independence Houses.
“They’re getting 24-seven police protection, and a task force unit that supplements our patrols,” Capt. Burke said. He added that there’s also an undercover operation “working all different angles.”