As a group of young men continued a vigil for their friend for a third day on Feb. 10 outside FM Candy and Grocery Corp in Kingsbridge Heights, residents of NYCHA’s Bailey Houses, located on Heath Avenue in Fordham Manor, also remembered resident, Hasan Richburg, 26, who, as reported, was shot multiple times outside the store, located at 131 West Kingsbridge Road, on Thursday, Feb. 8. He later died of his injuries.

 

On Saturday, Feb. 10, Norwood News visited Bailey Houses and spoke to several residents who had watched the young man grow up there. One woman who declined to be identified was sitting with another woman outside the building where another makeshift memorial of candles and photographs had been left by residents in tribute to the latest young victim of gun violence. The woman recalled, “He was a good kid. He never bothered anyone in this building.”

The woman continued, “When he was younger, he lived with his mom and dad and his three brothers. They were wonderful people and he never, never got nasty with anyone here. He was so respectful around his neighbors.”

 

Asked if people in the building had heard about the circumstances around the shooting of Richburg, the second woman, who also declined to be identified, said she heard he had sought refuge inside the FM Candy and Grocery, while the first woman added, “Going in, they shot him in the back and when he turned around, they finished him off.”

 

As reported, police had previously confirmed to Norwood News that Richburg had been shot on the street outside 131 West Kingsbridge Road.

Another male resident, who also declined to be identified, said he had known Richburg while he lived in the building for the last 15 years. “Most of the time I didn’t see him much because he was in prison,” the resident said. He said he did not know why Richburg was in prison, and added, “It wasn’t for anything good.”

 

“I think he was in some kind of gang,” the resident continued. “I think he quit the gang, because he tried to find a job and he was doing good the last couple of weeks.” Norwood News has reached out to City and State authorities for details of any prior arrests / convictions for Richburg and will update this story upon receipt of any information.

 

The same resident also alleged Richburg’s relative was currently in jail and sympathized, noting that both parents of the victim died years ago. The resident added, “I feel very sorry because it’s not their fault.” He added, “He never had a father or mother and he tried to survive.”

Norwood News visited the FM Candy and Grocery Store on Feb. 10 and was told no video of the shooting was available, although a camera was seen outside the store.

 

As reported, the shooting may have been the first for 2024 for the 50th Precinct, where the shooting occurred. Data from the NYPD shows that as of Feb. 4, there were zero year-to-date shootings in 50th Precinct, the same as last year. Data from Feb. 4 to Feb. 8 is not yet available.

 

The 50th Precinct broadly covers the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, Fieldston, Riverdale and Spuyten Duyvil, as well as Van Cortlandt Park, one of the largest parks in New York City.

Unfortunately, that overview for the 50th Precinct is not reflective of the overall situation when it comes to shootings in the borough, as a whole. Year to date as of Feb. 4, there had been 24 shootings in The Bronx, according to NYPD data, up from 22 during the same period last year. Meanwhile, 29 victims were shot year-to-date as of the same date across the borough, compared to 27 during the same period last year.

 

Meanwhile, for the 28-day period preceding Feb. 4, there were 20 shootings in the borough, compared to 18 during the same period last year. Meanwhile, during the same period, as of Feb. 4, 24 victims were shot in The Bronx, compared to 23 during the same period last year.

 

According to the NYPD, as of Feb. 8 and since Jan. 1, 2022, 14,218 guns have been removed from New York City streets, 628 of those since Jan. 1, 2024.

On Sunday, Feb. 11, a crowd of young men was seen once again at the memorial to Richburg located outside 131 West Kingsbridge Road for a fourth day.

 

On Feb. 14, police said that pursuant to an ongoing investigation, Deshaun Coleman, 46, of Sedgwick Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, was arrested earlier that morning at 8.15 a.m. in the confines of the 50th Precinct.

 

They said he was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

 

A person charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Anyone with information regarding 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 Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.