Joshua Bressette, who was murdered in the Bronx in 2014. Courtesy of the Berkshire District Attorney
BY BRONX TIMES
A Massachusetts district
attorney is renewing a call
for information regarding the
2014 murder of a Massachusetts
resident in the Bronx.
In 2014 Joshua Bressette
was reported missing and two
days later New York Police
discovered his body on a rooftop
in the Bronx. He died from
multiple gunshot wounds.
The Berkshire State Police
Detective Unit and the North
Adams Police are assisting
New York authorities in the
investigation with connections
and potential crimes occurring
in Massachusetts.
“This weekend, on June 6,
his loving family should be celebrating
Joshua’s 33rd birthday,
but instead mourn their
loss,” said Berkshire District
Attorney Andrea Harrington.
“They deserve closure and
justice.
The State Police and North
Adams Police continue to work
this case diligently to hold
the perpetrator accountable
and we ask the public to help
us. We hope people who may
now remember additional information
Gang member sentenced to life for 2011 murder
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 10 UNE 18-24, 2021 BTR
or those who were
unwilling to be forthcoming
will break their silence, do the
right thing, and help give this
family closure.”
The Berkshire State Police
Detective Unit is asking
for anyone with information
to call troopers at 413-499-1112
or the North Adams Police Department
at 413-664-4944.
BY BRONX TIMES
Two Bronx men were indicted
Wednesday for murder
and arson after they allegedly
started a fi re in 2018
that killed two people, including
a teenager and critically
injured his mother and
sister.
“The defendants, who are
brothers,allegedly started
the fi re in an apartment because
they wanted to hurt two
people inside,” said District
Attorney Darcel Clark. “The
fi re traveled to the apartment
above where a family lived,
killinga14–year–old boy and
a 42–year–old man. The boy’s
mother and seven–year–old
sister sustained terrible injuries,
and two fi refi ghters were
also injured. We will seek justice
for the innocent lives lost
and for the individuals who
suffered because of the defendants’
malicious actions.”
According to the investigation,
brothers Charlie Garcia,
44, and Edward Garcia, 47,
shared an apartment at 2381
Hoffman Street in Belmont.
On March 5, 2018, they allegedly
used ignitable liquid, disconnected
the gas line from
the stove and started a fi re
that rapidly accelerated. The
defendants allegedly started
the blaze and fl ed as two individuals
who were staying in
the apartment, Alyssa Cooke
and Paul Montgomery, slept
inside. The fi re traveled to the
apartment above where Evelyn
Aponte, her 14–year–old
son Jordan Conde, her 7–year–
old daughter and her boyfriend
Roberto Cortez were.
Jordan and Cortez died
of smoke inhalation and sustained
burn injuries. Aponte
sustained third-degree burns
on over half of her body and
her daughter suffered thirddegree
burns to her feet, collapsed
lungs and a burned
throat due to smoke inhalation.
Both were hospitalized
for months. Additionally, two
fi remen who responded to
the scene sustained injuries.
FDNY Firefi ghter Ryan Davis
suffered second-degree burns
to his legs and FDNY Lieutenant
Daniel Bocian suffered
a second-degree burn to his
wrist as well as a hernia.
The brothers were charged
with fi rst–degree arson, two
counts of second–degree
murder, two counts of second
degree attempted murder,
arson, three counts of fi rst–
degree assault, two counts
of fi rst degree attempted assault
and four counts of second–
degree assault. Charlie
Garcia was arraigned and
is due back in court Sept. 9.
Edward is awaiting arraignment.
MASSACHUSETTS
DA RENEWS CALL
FOR INFO ON 2014
BRONX MURDER
Bronx men
indicted for
2018 murder
and arson that
killed two
BY BRONX TIMES
A Bronx gang member was
sentenced Monday to life in
prison for the 2011 murder of
Bolivia Beck.
According to the investigation,
Kareem Davis, 32, shot
and killed Beck at the Millbrook
Houses as he was aiming
for Beck’s boyfriend, a rival
gang member, but struck
Beck instead. Davis was a
member of Killbrook, a violent
street gang based in the “Down
the Block” section of the Mill
Brook Houses. Since at least
2007, Killbrook had been engaged
in a violent rivalry with
“MBG,” a gang based in the
“Up the Block” section of Mill
Brook.
On the night of April 18,
2011, Davis and his brother
planned to kill a rival MBG
member as part of the broader
gang rivalry. Davis and his
brother, each armed with a
gun, walked “Up the Block”
in Mill Brook looking for their
target, who was standing next
to Beck and introducing her
to his grandparents. At that
point, they began shooting, fi ring
at least 12 shots from their
guns. Tragically, Beck was
struck by one of the bullets and
killed.
“What should have been a
happy moment ended in tragedy,
when she was shot by Kareem
Davis,” said U.S. Attorney
Audrey Strauss. “For his
role in this horrifi c and senseless
act of violence, Davis will
now spend the rest of his life
in a federal prison. We extend
our deepest condolences to the
members of Bolivia’s family.
We thank our partners at the
NYPD”