The man suspected of killing a 19-year-old employee during a robbery at a Manhattan Burger King, where he worked for most of 2020, has been arrested and charged with murder, police announced Friday.
The suspect was arrested in Brooklyn late Thursday, according to law enforcement officials. Top NYPD officials identified their suspect as 30-year-old Winston Glynn, who was tracked down days after the violent murder after extensive video canvassing of the scene before and after the shooting.
Glynn faces charges of murder, robbery, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon. He's got prior arrests in the city, including menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and assault, police said. Glynn, who was represented by Legal Aid attorney Eric Williams, did not enter a plea.
Glynn did not remain silent as he faced a Manhattan judge Friday evening, as his first court appearance featured unprovoked outbursts, as he spontaneously shouted "liar" several times.
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Prior to the unhinged moments in the courtroom, Glynn shouted profanities and made unintelligible comments as he was being walked in handcuffs out of the precinct by police.
Clothing worn the day of the crime was seen in his social media posts and witnesses helped identify him, too, senior NYPD officials said. Ear buds were also instrumental in helping police catch their prime suspect.
Video reviewed by police that allegedly showed Glynn wearing different clothing prior to the shooting help, among other evidence, tell police he planned the robbery ahead of time. Dangling earbuds seen in surveillance video, along with clothing that matched pictures he posted on social media, helped track Glynn to Brooklyn address, where he was arrested Thursday night.
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"He knew this place well, he preplanned the event," officials said Friday. They also revealed the 30-year-old to be a former employee of the Harlem location. Police said the alleged killer worked at the Burger King between April and Dec. of 2020, but did not appear to know the victim.
Police said Glynn had already taken $100 out of the register when he shot 19-year-old Krystal Bayron-Nieves. She didn't have a key to access additional money he was after, and that's when police said he fired one round that killed the cashier.
Mayor Eric Adams made a comment at the NYPD press conference, saying this particular case was personal.
"I don't come to press conferences of arrests. But this one was so personal, for a cold-blooded killer to shoot a 19-year-old child," Adams said.
The family of Bayron-Nieves was made aware of the arrest after a night of prayer and emotions at a candlelight vigil and told NBC New York that at least they now have some justice for their loved one's killing.
"My family is actually excited that they caught (the suspect). That could've been anybody's child," said Shiming Nieves, a cousin of the victim's. "That's not gonna bring her back or anything, but a little bit of relief and little by little we're gonna be picking up the pieces, to get our family strong again.
Cops have said an armed assailant walked into the franchise on East 116th Street in East Harlem around 12:45 a.m., flashing his gun and demanding money from employees. He pistol-whipped a manager and customer who were inside at the time and fired one bullet, striking Bayron-Nieves in the torso, before running off.
There was no indication Glynn knew the teen, as she had only recently started working at the eatery, well after he had left. Family said that Bayron-Nieves was desperately trying to get off the overnight shift at the fast-food joint, because she feared for her safety.
The young woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Bayron-Nieves, who is said to have lived just a few blocks from the Burger King, had just started working there in the last few weeks.
Some $20,000 in rewards was being offered for information in the case. The NYPD announced a $10,000 reward Wednesday, three days after Bayron-Nieves was shot and killed. Grocery magnate John Catsimatidis offered another $10,000.
