40
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APR. 15-21, 2022 BXR
BY DEAN MOSES
Two of the men who
were allegedly responsible
for killing a 61-year-old
woman in a Bronx gang
shootout were cuffed Friday
morning while a third
is still being sought, police
announced.
20-year-old Donald
Johnson and his brother
33-year-old Rakel Hampton
of 24-03 Preston Avenue
were taken into police custody
without incident in the
Bronx, Chief of Detectives
James Essig said on April 8.
Police believe the tragedy
occurred just after 7:05
p.m. on April 4 when three
Blood gang members engaged
in an argument with
three vendors in front of
150 East 188 Street. Handguns
were brandished,
sending the illegal vendors
fl eeing. Johnson fi red fi ve
shots after his targets but
missed, striking and killing
61-year-old Juana Esperanza
Soriano De-Perdomo
who was exiting a storefront.
“This is another example
of pointless violence
on the streets of our city.
Criminals cannot act with
impunity. Everyone will be
held accountable for their
actions,” Police Commissioner
Keechant Sewell
said.
Johnson and Hampton
were apprehended by
the Bronx Violence Felony
Squad on April 8 at 7:40 am;
however, Sewell added that
the investigation is still ongoing
and additional suspects
who were involved in
the shooting are still being
sought who she vows will
be found and held accountable.
Both brothers have a
lengthy history of arrests.
Johnson had three prior arrests,
two from 2020 involving
criminal possession of
a controlled substance and
possession of stolen property—
which he is currently
out on probation for—and
also has charges in New
Jersey in 2021 for criminal
possession of guns and
drugs.
Hampton is known to
the NYPD as a Bloods gang
member with 11 prior violent
arrests, the latest being
an arrest in January
for criminal possession of
a gun which he was out indicted
for but made bail on
April 4 the same day of the
shooting.
“She was totally innocent
and an unintended victim
of this scourge of gun
violence we now see. Investigation
reveals a dispute
in which we believe involving
vendors and Blood gang
members occurred in front
of 150 East 188th Street,”
Chief Essig said.
Chief Essig stated there
was an unidentifi ed male
with Johnson and Hampton
Chief of Detectives James Essig. Photo | Dean Moses
during the incident who
began to argue with three
other men, one of which
was a clothing vendor at
150 East 188th Street who
NYPD believes placed a
gun into his backpack during
the altercation. Johnson
brandished a .9mm
handgun, fi ring fi ve shots
missing their intended target
as they fl ed and instead
hit Soriano De-Perdomo in
the back, killing her. One
of the targeted individuals
fl ed into a nearby subway
station, while the other two
jumped into a white SUV.
“The motive into this is
still under investigation.
What we know is you have
illegal vendors there with
Blood gang members there
and some of which we have
narcotics involved in that,
so the motive for the actual
shooting is still under investigation
but we are exploring
all avenues,” Essig
said.
Two men cuffed for killing
61-year-old woman
Develop the skills you need for a
successful career. At Metropolitan
College of New York, you can find
the support you need to go further
and build your skills for success.
Awards Event
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
6:00PM – 9:30 PM
The Surf Club On The Sound
280 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10805
Honoring:
Robert Davis
Eifert, French & Ketchum
Sandra Erickson
Sandra Erickson Real Estate, Inc.
Field Hall Foundation
Clarence Stanley
Small Business Development
Center at Lehman College
Linda Tyler
Business Council of Westchester
Emcee:
Gary Axelbank
BronxTalk & Bronx Buzz, Bronxnet
To RSVP, Scan the QR Code or
Visit www.visionsvcb.org/events
For more information, please call
212-625-1616, ext. 135
Gold Sponsor:
/events
/events