31-Year-Old Suspect Charged With Murder In Weekend Shooting

YONKERS, NY — The Yonkers Police Department has arrested a suspect in Sunday's early morning shooting on South Broadway.

Just before 4 a.m., Yonkers police officers on patrol near South Broadway heard a gunshot and rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, officers located a man with a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite life-saving efforts from first responders, the victim was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

This victim has been identified as Celestino Vasquez-Patricio, a 25-year-old Yonkers resident.

Detectives from the Major Case Squad, the Crime Scene Unit, and the Digital Forensics Unit responded to the scene to investigate. Police believe that the suspect, later identified as Carlos Villanueva, was involved in a dispute with the victim on South Broadway. During this argument, Villanueva pulled a firearm and struck the victim with the weapon. He then fired one shot at the victim, striking him in the chest.

After being shot, Vasquez-Patricio walked into the street where he was met by two responding Yonkers Police Department officers who were first on the scene. The officers immediately began rendering medical aid. Other responding officers quickly began canvassing for the suspect and apprehended Villanueva, who was fleeing from the scene nearby on Ludlow Street. While fleeing the scene, Villanueva is believed to have discarded a firearm in a nearby front yard, and as a result, a firearm was recovered nearby, police said.

"It is critically important we hold people accountable for their actions," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said. "I commend the hard work and swift action of our Yonkers Police Department in making this arrest. No one should lose their life to violence."

Villanueva is a 31-year-old resident of Yonkers.

He has been booked on the charges of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

"It's always tragic when one person takes the life of another," Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said. "No matter the intensity of a dispute, escalating it by introducing a weapon and resorting to violence is never justified. Thanks to the swift actions of our officers and detectives, we were able to quickly apprehend this violent individual. He will now have to face the justice system and be held accountable for his actions in court."

SEE ALSO: Weekend Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, Suspect In Custody: Yonkers PD