Bronx Men Charged in Manhattan Murder

Three connected buildings on Valentine Avenue is apparently a group home for the disabled, where one resident has been charged in a 2021 homicide in Manhattan in a photo taken on Sunday, October 30, 2022.--Photo by David Greene

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

November 17, 2022

BRONX- Nearly 11-months after a double shooting / homicide in the Inwood section of Manhattan, police have announced the arrest of a third suspect in the crime.

On November 16, police announced the arrest of Blake Martinez, 22, of 10th Avenue in Manhattan, who was charged with murder, robbery, assault and criminal posession of a weapon.

The arrest comes a little more than three-weeks after police announced the arrests of two Bronx men, Luis Rodriguez, 28, of Valentine Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights and Jeremy Lopez, 21, of Waldo Avenue in Kingsbridge, who were both charged in the killing.

Police say the three men took part in the crime that took place at 10 p.m. on December 17,  2021 when police officers from the 34th Precinct were called to 690 Academy Street. On the sidewalk officers discovered a 29-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the head and a 21-year-old male who had been shot in the left arm.

At the time police reported that the 21-year-old male was transported by EMS to Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital and the 29-year-old victim was rushed to Harlem hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on December 20, 2021.

The victim was later identified as Rainer Rodriguez, 29, of Cooper Street in Manhattan.

Both Rodriguez and Lopez are also facing murder, robbery and assault charges as well as criminal posession of a weapon.

On October 30, the Bronx Voice visited Rodrigez' home on Valentine Avenue, where a man confirmed that the location is a group home of disabled adults.

The brownstone Rodriguez lived in is connected to a more modern, out of place 2-story building, one resident of the block was asked about the property, when he said, "I always ask myself what this building is."

The male resident was told that a resident of the property had been charged with a murder in Manhattan, when he replied, "No way. Wow. I don't even know what that building is all about."

The Bronx Voice has attempted to reach out to the New York City Department of Disabilities as well as the group home, but they have not yet responded before the publication of this article.