A woman was shot in the back while trying to run from her killer moments after answering her doorbell early Saturday morning, police say, and two boys inside the her apartment were wounded in the violent commotion.
Police responded to the Bronx around 5 a.m. for reports of a shooting on East 203rd Street. Arriving officers found a 40-year-old woman in grave condition and the two boys, 8 and 16, with gunshot wounds.
According to a preliminary investigation, detectives suspect the woman's boyfriend approached the home early in the morning and rang the doorbell. After the woman answered the door, she saw him pull out a pistol and turned to run away. That’s when police say he shot her several times in the back.
In the chaos, the 8-year-old was shot in the arm and the 16-year-old was shot in the butt, police and fire department spokespersons reported. They were taken to local hospitals and were expected to recover.
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Police said the woman was rushed to the hospital but life-saving measures were unsuccessful.
Kelvin Reyes is trying to process the death of his 40-year-old sister, Saida Bonilla Mejia, shot to death he says, by her boyfriend.
"Right now, I can't believe that she is not here right now with us," Reyes said. "One of my nephews said he saw [the gunman] trying to open the door to get inside, and they were arguing."
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Police said her boyfriend, Rosvin Mejia Castillo, was arrested on murder charges. The kids he also shot, are relatives that were visiting at the time, according to family.
"She don't deserve that, she’s a good person," Reyes said.
Correction (Feb. 10, 2024, 5:40 p.m.): An earlier version of this article misstated the boys were the victim's sons.
