A wild, sprawling shootout in the Knox-Gates neighborhood in Norwood last Friday night left four people injured, two of them with gunshot wounds.

Vicar Bob Rainis of Epiphany Lutheran Church, a former NYPD homicide detective, looked at the swollen face and battered body of Billy Murphy just hours before he died in mid-August and became convinced Murphy was the victim of a savage attack.

But a month after his death, police are now treating Murphy’s death as an accident, the result of a fall.

33rd State Senate District Results: Gustavo Rivera: 6,870 votes, 62.21%; Pedro Espada: 3,607, 32.66%; Daniel Padernacht, 567, 5.13%. Next: Rivera will face Republican John E. McCarthy and Green Party candidate John Reynolds. 78th Assembly District Results: Jose Rivera: 2,185 votes, 75.89%; Sergio Villaverde: 694, 24.11%. Next: Rivera faces William Sullivan, who is running on the Republican and Conservative tickets. 80th Assembly District Results: Naomi Rivera: 2,332 votes, 68.57%; Robert Giuffre: 1,069, 31.43%; Next: Rivera is up against Republican Joseph DeLuna and Conservative Robert Goodman. 81st Assembly District Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz didn’t face a primary opponent. Next: He goes up against

Read More

Last Tuesday, 86th District Assemblyman Nelson Castro fought off a primary challenge from Hector Ramirez, a district leader who’d received the support of the Bronx Democratic Party, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., and several large unions.

In what was the tightest race in the borough, Castro secured 54 percent of the vote to Ramirez’s 46, giving him a 269 vote victory margin.

Voting machines that debuted on Sept. 14 caused a few bumps in the Democratic process last week, as poll workers – and voters – adjusted to the new system.

•    The 52nd Precinct Community Precinct Council will meet on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the 52nd Precinct headquarters, 3016 Webster Ave. For more information, call (718) 220-5824. •    The Community Board 7 Health and Hospitals committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the board office, 229 A E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 933-5650. •    The Bedford Mosholu Community Association will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. at 400 E. Mosholu Pkwy. So., apt. B1 (lobby floor). All are welcome.

When Pedro Espada, Jr. stepped down from the podium in the back of La Luna Lounge in Tremont last week after giving a short, fiery and somewhat confusing concession speech, the small but raucous crowd began chanting. "ESPADA! ESPADA! ESPADA!" they bellowed.

One of the most vocal chanters was Mike J. "Hollywood" McCray, "a.k.a ‘Nine Milli,’ but not because I like guns, if you know what I mean," he said. When asked what he thought about Espada’s loss, McCray’s face momentarily dropped. "He lost? I thought he won."

Within minutes of State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. conceding defeat last week, his victorious opponent Gustavo Rivera arrived at the Monte Carlo Room on Jerome Avenue, where hundreds of his supporters had gathered.

He entered through a side door, to a chorus of roars and cheers, and made for the stage, hugging and high-fiving anyone in his way.

The Rivera family had good reason to celebrate on Sept. 14: Assemblyman Jose Rivera and his daughter, Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera, both came out victorious in their Democratic primary races against two challengers in their respective districts.