Two men indicted in fatal beating of bronx fruit vendor — Police light

BRONX, N.Y. – Two men have been indicted for the fatal beating of a street fruit vendor on Fordham Road, allegedly attacking the man with a baseball bat after a dispute over theft accusations. The Bronx District Attorney’s Office announced the charges on Friday.

According to the indictment, Terrence Downes, 44, of Queens, has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. He was arraigned in Bronx Supreme Court and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on December 23. Romel Jarrett, 37, of the Bronx, faces a first-degree manslaughter charge and is expected to be arraigned at a later date.

The incident occurred on September 12, when the defendants allegedly confronted 56-year-old Leslie Sanchez, a fruit stand owner, who accused them of stealing from his stand. The argument escalated and moved to the Fordham Road subway station before Sanchez returned to the street. At that point, the suspects allegedly approached him from behind with a baseball bat and began beating him.

Sanchez was struck in the head seven times after falling to the ground, according to investigators. He was transported to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he died from his injuries on September 14.

“The defendants allegedly beat the victim with a baseball bat after he confronted them for stealing from his fruit stand,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark in a statement. “The victim was repeatedly clubbed in the head and died two days later. The defendants will be held accountable for this brutality.”

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Homicide Counsel John Miras, with oversight from the Homicide Bureau’s leadership.

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