Courthouse Killer Nabbed, Cops Say

Shooting Took Place Across from Courthouse, Near Yankee Stadium

Miguel Rodriguez, 27, was found shot to death inside Joyce Kilmer Park across from the Bronx Supreme Courthouse in May 2022.

By Dan Gesslein

Bronx Voice

January 19, 2023

BRONX - Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a man across the street from the Bronx Courthouse, a few blocks away from Yankee Stadium.

Police arrested 40-year-old Leonard Thalease of Crotona and charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal posession of a weapon. Thalease was charged in the murder of 27-year-old Miguel Rodriguez back in May inside Joyce Kilmer Park. 

At around 2 am on May 14, 2022, police responding to a call of shots fired arrived at Joyce Kilmer Park, across the street from the Bronx Supreme Court building. Cops found Rodriguez lying in the park with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced deceased at Lincoln Hospital. 

Cops said Thalease shot Rodriguez during an argument in the park.