NEW YORK — A man has been taken into custody for allegedly shooting a woman and injuring two children in the Bronx on Saturday. The incident occurred in an apartment building at East 203rd Street and Valentine Avenue around 5 a.m. when police responded to a report of an assault.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a woman who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, a 16-year-old boy shot in the buttocks, and a 9-year-old boy shot in the arm. All three victims were transported to local hospitals, where the woman, identified as 40-year-old Saida Xiomara Bonilla Mejia, was tragically pronounced dead. The two children, said to be Bonilla’s nephews, are in stable condition and are expected to recover. Police confirmed that they were not the intended targets of the shooting.
Neighbors reported hearing yelling before the shooting and expressed shock at the incident. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Rosvin A. Mejia Castillo, has been arrested and is facing several charges including murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child.
According to authorities, the suspect was in a relationship with the victim. Devastated loved ones, including Bonilla’s younger brother Kalvin Mejia-Reyes, gathered at the apartment to mourn her loss. Mejia-Reyes revealed that his sister had confided in him about the abusive behavior of her boyfriend during their two-year cohabitation.
Family members disclosed that Bonilla had returned home late on Friday night, only to be ambushed and fatally shot by Mejia Castillo who had been waiting in the hallway. They described Bonilla as a skilled hairstylist and talented cook who had immigrated from Honduras a decade ago.
The shocking incident has left the community in mourning as they try to come to terms with the tragic loss and support the surviving children. The authorities continue to investigate the case and gather evidence to ensure that justice is served for the victims.