Police have re-classified a robbery investigation as a murder inquiry following the death of one of two male victims involved in a robbery and assault which occurred in Mount Hope on Saturday.

 

Police responded to a 911 call on Saturday, July 25, at approximately 2.38 a.m. regarding an assault in progress near the corner of East 176th Street and Carter Avenue in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx, located in the 46th precinct.

 

Upon arrival, officers observed two men, a 42-year-old and a 38-year-old, each with head trauma. EMS responded to the location, and transported the 42-year-old to Saint Barnabas Hospital in stable condition, and the 38-year-old to NYC Health & Hospitals/Lincoln in critical condition.

 

Further investigation revealed the men had been inside a vehicle and became involved in a non-injurious motor vehicle collision with another vehicle. The occupants of the second vehicle exited their vehicle and began to assault both men. The suspects were taken into custody at the scene.

 

Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, two men were arrested and charged on Sunday, July 25, at 2.59 a.m. in the 46th precinct. Thomas Ellington, 29, from the Woodstock section of the Bronx, was charged with attempted robbery, two counts of gang assault, and two counts of assault.

 

Luciano Norales, 27, from the New Lots section of Brooklyn was charged with attempted robbery, two counts of gang assault and two counts of assault.

 

On Tuesday, July 27, the 42-year-old victim succumbed to his injuries. He was identified as Gueris Guillermo of Midtown East, Manhattan.

 

On Thursday, July 29, the incident was reclassified as a homicide.

 

A person arrested and accused of a crime is innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Anyone with information with regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.