A young man was arrested on suspicion of killing his stepfather Marcelino Valerio with a gunshot to the head when the 80-year-old was returning to his home in The Bronx (NYC) after a family party in Westchester.
The suspect fled New York and was captured at Reading, Pennsylvania. He was awaiting an extradition hearing and his name was not immediately released by police yesterday.
Luz Collado, Valerio’s widow, told the Daily News that the alleged gunman lived in Pennsylvania and He had “mental problems for a long, long time.” “I am very sad,” he added after the arrest. “It’s terrible for me.”
The unidentified stepson allegedly shot Valerio on September 17 as the victim returned to his Highbridge home with his wife and daughter. a “Sweet 16” party in New Rochelle, Westchester County.
Collado said that her husband and stepson even seemed to have a friendly conversation at the party. “I don’t know what happened,” he added. “We don’t know what happened in his mind.”
The gunman was seen on video waiting on a scooter, passing Valerio and his daughter. Then He backed away and shot the victim in the head before fleeing. The elderly man died on the sidewalk at W. 168th St. and Ogden Ave.
At first the NYPD thought there had been an argument at the party. But NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Tuesday that there had been no dispute but rather “long-standing issues” between the two, as well as “some discussion of current living conditions.”
Geraldine Valerio, daughter of the victim, said yesterday that his half brother “always had anger and violent problems… He was always problematic at home, school and work, which is what I hope will come to light… “He is not a good person and we always try to distance ourselves from him.”
He added that The week before the homicide, his half-brother “became very friendly” with his future victim.. “We never thought it would take it to this extreme,” she added. “He must pay for this serious crime and stay off the streets.”
Domestic violence is common in New York, between couples, relatives, neighbors and roommates.
Early yesterday morning a woman was stabbed to death by her brother in the home they shared in Brooklyn and he himself called 911. And on Monday in that same county a Latina mother, her daughter and her dog were found dead, in an apparent case of homicide suicide in his apartment.
