A dead Pitbull that was found in a trash bag close to the murder site of where 35-year-old Ramon Vasquez was killed on Webster Avenue in the Norwood section of The Bronx on Saturday, March 28.

 

The grizzly discovery was found by a resident who told Norwood News in part, “I wanted to report a dead dog on Webster avenue near the site of the murder that happened recently. It looks like a pet that was well taken care of but looks like someone tried to dispose of it in a black garbage bag.”

 

The person added, “There was a dog in the truck the murdered man was living in. Not sure [if] this is related. It was there yesterday [Sunday, April 12] and I saw it again this morning.”

The dog was located about 15-20 feet away from the memorial tribute to Vasquez which includes flowers, candles and photos. Police were also at the scene when Norwood News arrived on Monday, April 13, and were talking to another man.

 

The dog was seen with a military green-colored harness around its body in a black trash bag. It’s unknown if the discovery of the dog has anything to do with the prior murder. A relative of the deceased told Norwood News she doesn’t believe the dog belonged to Vasquez.

 

Norwood News has asked the NYPD if there have been arrests in the case and they said there have not.

 

We’ll share any updates we receive. Read our previous story on the murder here.

Separately, on Monday, April 13, Yvonne Snell-Caldwell, a business manager with Help USA, an entity which provides shelter to meet people’s immediate needs and aims to help with stable housing for those in need, which is located at 3300 Webster Avenue, shared the attached photo on April 13 of a live Pitbull chained to a pillar on Webster Avenue with the following accompanying message.

 

“This is what we are dealing with today on Webster Ave between Parkside & Gun Hill,” the message read. “This is near the Con Ed power plant. We cannot walk on the sidewalk because the migrants are hanging out smoking, etc. Having a dog with them during the day is becoming the norm.”

Residents have long been complaining about various quality of life issues on Webster Avenue. On March 30, Sirio Guerino of Guerinos Against Graffitti* wrote to Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), who represents parts of Norwood and broadly represents the Northwest Bronx, writing, “I am glad that these two bills-INTRO 1 & INTRO 175, have passed protecting our schools and houses of worship. I have one question. Do these bills include EXTRA FUNDING in the Police Department’s budget to carry out this law???”

 

Guerino added, “With the Mayor not hiring 5000 more Police officers and wanting a budget cut too. After attending the monthly community police meeting last week there is NOT ENOUGH manpower and resources to protect the public now without adding more specialized Policing!!! For example the horrible condition of Webster Ave from Gun Hill Road to 204th street in Norwood (see attach photos).” The referenced photos are attached.

 

Guerino continued, “Plus all the blocking of Fire Hydrants by park cars that never get ticketing because there is not enough manpower to enforce it!!! Plus all the illegal car washes blocking street parking and bus lanes!!! We need our Quality of Life issues privatized.”

One of the photos shows a New York State Gaming Commission vehicle blocking a fire hydrant. Bronx Community Board 7 member Tobie Buford responded to Guerino’s email, writing simply, “Agreed.”

 

Another female resident, Marilyn Reyes, later added, “Conditions along Webster Avenue have been a long-standing problem here in the North Bronx.  Particularly along the area mentioned above by Mr. Guerino, which is amazing considering what a main thruway that specific area is.  When will someone care enough to fix the problem? The issue is a tragedy waiting to happen.”

Trash is seen on Webster Avenue, Norwood, The Bronx between East 205th Street and East Gun Hill Road 4/14/26, amid resident complaints. Residents have long complained about quality of life issues in the area. Various church, youth and other volunteer groups often join Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson in clean-up efforts in the area. Video by Síle Moloney

The location of the murder site is also between Parkside Place and East Gun Hill Road on Webster Avenue, but is closer to East 205th Street, opposite the gas station and tire shop seen in this video. The tire shop address is 3118 Webster Ave, Bronx, NY 10467.

 

Norwood News went back to Webster Avenue on Monday evening, April 13, to visit Help USA’s building at 3300 Webster Avenue and asked the security guards if they had noticed the dog chained up outside near the area but they said they did not. We also checked the Con Ed site where the chained dog had been seen but it was no longer there and there were few people around but no groups congregating.

 

Various church, youth and other volunteer groups often join Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson in clean-up efforts in the area. On the other hand, when the Sanitation Foundation has organized clean-ups at other times in conjunction with the New York Yankees, they have tended to focus on areas of the north Bronx which are much cleaner such as around Lehman College, rather than Webster Avenue (or Jerome Avenue).

 

When we asked why this [already mostly clean] area was the focus of the clean up efforts, as opposed to the areas where a clean-up was more needed like Jerome and Webster, we were informed that it was because the subway station at Bedford Park Blvd / Lehman College was more convenient for volunteers.

There were some families hanging out on the sidewalk on deck chairs beside some parked cars along with some kids playing further down the street, closer to the original murder site near 3118 Webster Avenue.

 

There is a large amount of very unsightly trash / discarded clothes and other items/furniture past 3300 Webster towards East Gun Hill Road, mostly beside the train tracks for the Metro North.

An NYPD patrol vehicle was seen parked outside the Norwood Terrace supportive housing building in the area and two officers were seen reentering their vehicle and driving away.  View a short video of the area below.

 

The above-referenced bill(s) by Guerino, Intro 0175-2026, sponsored by Dinowitz, would require the police commissioner to establish a plan to address and contain the risk of physical obstruction, physical injury, intimidation, and interference at educational facilities while preserving and protecting the rights to free speech, assembly, and protest.

According to the city council, the plan would include considerations for the NYPD to use in determining whether, when, and the extent to which security perimeters may be used to protect entry to and egress from educational facilities, and for communication with stakeholders, including the public, persons seeking to assemble or protest, and affected educational administrators. A similar bill Intro 0001-2026 aims to do the same but refers to houses of worship.

 

The council further states that the Commissioner would be required to submit a proposed plan and a final plan to the mayor and City Council speaker no later than 45 days and 90 days, respectively, after the bill’s effective date. The final plan would also be posted on NYPD’s website.

There has been some opposition to the bills from those concerned that they may impact upon people’s freedom of speech. Jenna Klaus, chief of staff for the councilman said, “Both require the NYPD to establish a plan containing considerations on whether, when, and to what extent security perimeters can be established.”

 

Norwood News has reached out to the councilman for comment on all of the above issues along Webster and will share any feedback we receive. Our request has been acknowledged.

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/, or on X @NYPDTips

 

All calls are strictly confidential.