By Dan Murphy
A Jan. 25th homicide in New Rochelle, in which 16-year old Julian Oliveros was shot and killed by a 17-year old, has many in Westchester County shocked at the overabundance of guns in the hands of young, teen age gang members.
The other alarming piece to this case is that it occured in the middle of the day, with New Rochelle police responed to the call of a shooting at 338 pm, at the corner of 4th Street and Washington Ave. Upon arrival Officers located a 16-year-old male victim (Oliveros) with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers administered First Aid and the victim was transported to a hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and succumbed to his injures.
New Rochelle police immediately developed a lead and were able to locate and arrest a 17-year-old male suspect near Glen Place and Beechwood Avenue, who was found to be in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Anyone with further information on this incident is asked to call the New Rochelle Police Department at 914-
Due to Juvenile arrest laws in New York State, the name of the suspect is still being withheld. He was charged with Penal Law 125.25 Murder 2nd degree and Penal Law 265.03 Criminal Possession of a weapon 2nd degree. Weapon recovered off the suspect. The weapon has no serial number and is considered a ‘ghost gun.’
Minister Mark McLean, President, Inter-Religious Coalition of New Rochelle, said this shooting was an example of “an epidemic of violence.”
“It’s not a black problem or a latino problem. This is a human problem and we need to come together and respond to the emergency that it is. Youth violence is an emergency just like COVID, and just like racial and religious hatred. We need to put together an emergency plan to address this problem. No child is safe, it affects white kids as well. What are we going to do about it?”
New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said, “The ages of both the shooter and the victim make this incident especially horrific and, for young people and their families throughout our community, deeply upsetting. My personal thoughts are with the families that have been broken by this tragedy, and with all in our community who have been shaken by such a senseless act of violence. This incident highlights yet again the destructive impact of our nation’s lax gun regulations, which flood firearms into the wrong hands and can transform any dispute into a heartbreaking loss. The scourge of gun violence must stop. Why do teenagers have guns in our neighborhood? Where are they getting them? We must stand together as a united community and say no more! Not in our community.”
A GoFundme Page has been set up by the Oliveros family at the following link-https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-julian-oliveros-family
The message reads, “Hello Everyone, We hope you find the time to read this, On 1/25/2022 around 3:30PM our 17 year old son was fatally shot and killed. We are asking for any help you can. Oliveros Family – Very humble family in shock / pain and distraught, Please help with whatever your heart desires for Medical, Transportation to his Native Mexico and funeral costs. We thank you all so much. May God bless you.”
