Two Families in Mourning
Following a deadly dispute in a Bronx apartment building, two grieving families are left in shock and confusion. Claretha Daniels, 44, and her boyfriend Justin Lawless, 36, were killed in the crossfire after tensions between squatters and long-term residents took a fatal turn.
Daniels and Lawless were socializing with neighbors near their Davidson Ave. apartment when an offensive remark from an alleged squatter ignited a deadly chain of events. The dispute quickly escalated as friend of victims, Everett Slade, stepped in to challenge the offender. In response, a group from the building attacked Slade, Daniels, and Lawless.
Gunshots in the Night
Police report that during the confrontation, one of the assailants drew a firearm and fired at the trio, fatally wounding Lawless and Daniels, and injuring Slade. Justin Lawless’s sister, Jazmine, said her brother was a peaceful man and was struggling to understand how the situation turned deadly so quickly.
Loss of a Loving Father
Justin Lawless, a father of three, is remembered by Jazmine as a man constantly smiling and fiercely protective of his loved ones. She described him as “actually, a sweetheart” who avoided conflicts and prioritized the well-being of his family. Tragically, his 9-year-old child, who lived with him and Daniels in the ill-fated building, is left orphaned.
Claretha Daniels: More than a Mother
Claretha Daniels, the other victim of this tragic dispute, was a beloved home health aide. She was described by her unnamed daughter as a hardworking woman who showed immense pride in her work and was loved by her patients.
Cracks in the Community
According to local residents, tension had been brewing in the Davidson Ave. building ever since a group of six migrants moved in half a year ago. Multiple residents described the building as a hotbed of violence fueled by illicit activities and ongoing squabbles between long-term tenants and the new arrivals.
A Question of Accountability
The residential building, managed by Fordham-Bedford Housing Corporation, is part of the city’s affordable housing program. While acknowledging the ongoing issues, Sam Martinez, the building manager, called the incident a “sign of the times”. He revealed that security measures are being increased in response to the tragedy.
The Catastrophe’s Culprit
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny indicated that the deadly skirmish started when residents, including the deceased couple, confronted the migrants. Josue Silva, 21, a migrant with an alleged criminal record, is accused of the shootings that killed Lawless and Daniels.
Silva, believed to originate from Venezuela and currently at large, has a list of prior arrests in 2022, mainly for larceny. He is also linked to a non-fatal shooting incident earlier this year. Despite all attempts to find him, he remains on the loose.
A Grieving Community
While the search for Silva continues, the community is left grappling with the tragic deaths. As the families mourn their lost loved ones, the questions of how a verbal dispute escalated into a deadly shooting and how the alleged shooter remains at large continue to hang over the community. This incident has highlighted the deep-seated issues in the Bronx community and emphasizes the need for effective solutions to the ever-increasing housing debacle in New York City.