Murder Suspect Apprehended At JFK Airport Trying To Make Escape To Florida
Police announced on Friday that they apprehended an ex-convict gunman wanted for a drug-related murder in upper Manhattan over the Independence Day weekend. Angel Garcia, 43, was arrested at Kennedy Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Florida. He was charged with manslaughter and gun possession for the shooting death of Angel Cruzeta, 30, on July 5.
The incident occurred in front of a building on Vermilyea Ave. near W. 204th St in Inwood, where Garcia shot Cruzeta in the face. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that Garcia and his accomplice approached Cruzeta and shot him in the head before fleeing on a scooter. Despite being rushed to Harlem Hospital, Cruzeta could not be saved.
The motive for the shooting was believed to be a drug dispute. The exact details of the incident have not been disclosed, but the area where the murder occurred is known for its drug market, according to the police. The location was previously the site of a fatal shootout last year, where an undercover operation involving the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies was met with resistance from a drug trafficker who brandished a gun.
The victim, Cruzeta, had sealed arrests on his record, while the suspect, Garcia, had 19 prior arrests, including charges related to drugs, burglary, and robbery. Garcia had been conditionally released on parole in March after serving almost five years for assault and conspiracy. Prior to that, he was paroled in November 2005 after serving three years for attempted grand larceny auto.
Cruzeta’s shooting occurred during a violent 9 1/2-hour period that started on the evening of July 4 and saw a total of 14 people shot. Tragically, Cruzeta was one of two fatalities during that violent stretch.
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