Search for Teen’s Killer

Jeep at Center of Hunt for Gunman 

By Dan Gesslein 

Bronx Voice 

January 21, 2023

BRONX - Cops are looking for a Jeep to find the gunman who opened fire into a group of teenagers outside a Police Atheistic League Center- killing one of the youngsters.

The NYPD released photos of a gray Jeep Renegade that was caught on surveillance video near the site of the shooting.

At around 9 pm on January 19, the Jeep was traveling eastbound on Longwood Avenue coming upon the Police Athletic League (PAL) center. As a group of teens was exiting the center and milling about the front, the driver tuned the vehicle to the opposite direction and parked a block away on Longwood and Beck Street.

The driver exited the Jeep and walked over to the PAL. When he reached the center he pulled out a handgun and fired three rounds into the crowd.

One of the bullets struck 15-year-old Josue Lopez-Ortega in the head. He subsequently died at Lincoln Hospital. Another 16 year-old was shot in the leg.

The gunman then ran back to the car and took off.  Now police are hoping someone will recognize the Jeep and turn the killer in.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.