New York police have arrested a 22-year-old man in the murder of a teenager who was stabbed three times before he was set on fire in the B...
New York police have arrested a 22-year-old man in the murder of a teenager who was stabbed three times before he was set on fire in the Bronx.
Adones Betances faces murder and manslaughter charges in the death of 18-year-old Winston Ortiz, who died after the Wednesday attack in Highbridge
Betances was described as being the brother of the victim's 15-year-old girlfriend. It is believed that Betances took issue with the age gap in the couple's relationship, ABC 7 reports.
Adones Betances, 22, was arrested in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Winston Ortiz
NYPD say Ortiz identified his attacker when they arrived to the scene of the Wednesday attack in Highbridge
Ortiz is said to have identified his assailant to authorities as they arrived to the scene at the apartment building at Woodycrest Avenue.
Police say Betances did not live in the building and was waiting for Ortiz when he arrived at the apartment.
As he was being led out the police precinct, Betances declared that he had been framed.
Ortiz, 18, was stabbed three times before being doused with gasoline and then having a lit match thrown at him around 3pm on Wednesday afternoon, leaving him in critical condition.
Police have revealed that the suspect entered the building just before Ortiz did and then carried out the brazen attack.
Neighbors rushed out of their apartment and were able to put out the flames using buckets of water before EMTs arrived.
Late on Wednesday night, Ortiz's aunt posted a heartbreaking message on her Facebook page announcing the death of her nephew.
'Today we found out our oldest nephew was brutally murdered in NY. He fought hard for his life until he could no longer fight and passed away this evening. I am begging all of my friends to share our GoFundMe as no parent should outlive their child let alone worry about how to pay for funeral arrangements. My heart is so broken into pieces and beyond consoling.'
One woman who saw Ortiz ablaze and poured water over him told the New York Post that it had shaken her up.
Betances was described as being the brother of the victim's 15-year-old girlfriend
The teenager was stabbed three times in the chest before having gasoline poured on him and then set alight with a flicked match in the hallway of a Bronx apartment block, pictured
'I stepped outside. I saw flames,' said the 34-year-old woman, who did not want give her name.
'I thought her apartment was on fire. And when I go over there, I saw a guy in flames all over his body.
'I got very scared because I have my girls here,' she said. 'It's really concerning.'
The woman said that a recent spate of violence in the neighborhood had left her feeling unsafe.
'Unfortunately in the neighborhood we feel like we're not safe,' the mother said. 'There was a shooting yesterday around the corner. We may need to have some police around the area.'
In Tuesday's shooting, two men were shot by the corner of the building.
A 21-year-old man was struck seven times while a 37-year-old man was also shot.
Ortiz was arguing with his attacker before the assault occurred at the Bronx apartment block
The neighborhood has seen a spate of violence in recent days with two men shot on Tuesday
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