Arrest Made In East Harlem Killing Of Delivery Bicyclist: Police

EAST HARLEM, NY — Police have arrested a Queens man and accused him of fatally shooting a 29-year-old delivery bicyclist in East Harlem in March, authorities announced Thursday.

Douglas Young, a 38-year-old Jamaica, Queens resident, was arrested just before 1 a.m. Thursday and charged with two counts of murder, two counts of firearm possession and robbery and criminal possession of a weapon

The March 29 shooting inside Poor Richards Playground killed Francisco Villalva Vitinio, who was making deliveries for DoorDash when he was approached by a man in the playground who attempted to steal his electric bicycle.

Relatives said Villalva Vitinio refused to surrender the e-bike, leading the assailant to shoot him in the torso. Villalva Vitinio was found lying unconscious on a basketball court, and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

#JusticeForFrancisco— On March 29, 2021 at 10:30pm in East Harlem, Francisco Villalva Vitinio, #NYCDeliveryWorker worker was killed while working for @doordash.

Donate to the family fund: https://t.co/2G5I253qBe and join us in demanding justice Francisco & all #NYCDeliveristas pic.twitter.com/0HaCPusqgD
— Workers Justice (@workersjusticep) April 1, 2021

His murder came amid a wave of robberies targeting delivery bicyclists and their valuable e-bikes, including several similar incidents in Harlem.

Villalva Vitinio had been working to support his father in his native Mexico, according to a GoFundMe created by relatives after his death, which sought to cover funeral costs.

After having worked directly for restaurants for a decade, Villalva Vitinio lost his job during the pandemic and was forced to start working for DoorDash, his cousin, Josefa Villalva, wrote. He had just finished his shift when he was attacked on March 29.

"We are demanding justice for Francisco, but at the same time calling on the solidarity of our community to raise funds to cover his funeral cost," Villalva said.

In a statement, the leader of an organization that advocates for delivery workers said Villalva Vitinio's death should give rise to reform.

"Delivering justice for Francisco family and all food delivery workers means implementing street safety measures that will prevent bike-thefts, assaults and other deadly crimes that impacts the lives of more than 80,000 food delivery workers in NYC," said Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Brooklyn-based Worker's Justice Project.

Villalva Vitinio's death spurred an April 21 protest down Broadway by his fellow "deliveristas," and inspired demands for policy change, including labor protections, by advocates.

Deliveristas have been keeping vigil at Poor Richard’s Playground every day this past week to mourn the death of Francisco Villalva Vitinio, a delivery worker for @DoorDash who was shot and killed Monday night after being robbed for his e-bike: https://t.co/tG7lJx1IMo pic.twitter.com/rySYUHO7Re
— Uptown Grand Central (@uptown_grand) April 4, 2021

Previous coverage:

• Victim In Harlem Shooting Was Food Delivery Bicyclist
• Man Shot Dead In East Harlem Playground: Police