Shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, Manuel Ayala was sitting outside of a Union Avenue bodega when he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to Jacobi Medical Center for treatment, where he was pronounced dead.
On Wednesday, Ayala’s family was joined by the New York State Crimestoppers Director Robert Keller, New Rochelle Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll, Det. Claudio Carpano and Capt. Robert Gazzola outside of La Chiquita Karina Deli, where they announced a $2,500 for information leading to the shooter.
According to police, Ayala, a Mexican national, was likely not the intended target, and he was instead the victim of a “wild bullet.” There was reportedly one shooter, who fired two shots from across Third Street toward a group of people on the corner outside Lachiquita Karina.
Crimestoppers officials said that they are hopeful the reward will lead to a tip that can spark the case and lead to an arrest.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact the New Rochelle Police Department’s General Investigation Unit at (914) 654-2260 or the New York State Crimestoppers hotline at 1-866-313-TIPS (8477).
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