Officials have remained tight-lipped after a beloved Woodlawn Heights native died at Lincoln Hospital on July 13 after being held in police custody. Friends of Justin “Gusto” Gidora, 35, are expected to gather on Saturday night, July 22, in Van Cortlandt Park for a candlelight vigil in memory of the young man.

 

Details of the events leading up to the young man’s death remain unclear but friends of Gidora say they believe he may have been arrested at a Bronx subway station (possibly the East 180th Street Station) on Wednesday, July 6. Meanwhile, FDNY officials said they got a call at 9:50 p.m. on July 6 and paramedics were sent to Bronx Central Booking at East 161st Street after Gidora suffered a “major injury.” According to friends of Gidora, he was taken off life support at Lincoln Hospital and died on July 13.

On Wednesday, July 12, Sgt. Feno of the NYPD told Norwood News, “So, at this point the incident is being investigated as a medical episode which occurred inside Bronx Central Booking.”

 

Asked if the medical episode followed a fight inside the jail as some of Gidora’s friends allege, Feno replied, “So, like I said, at this point the incident is under investigation as a medical episode. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.” He added that the incident is being investigated by the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division.

 

Asked for details of Gidora’s arrest, Feno said he did not have that information but promised it would be provided by Friday, July 14. Despite several follow-up requests, the requested information had not been provided by Saturday, July 22.

Shortly after news of Gidora’s death became known in Woodlawn Heights, someone painted “Gusto,” Gidora’s nickname, on the side wall of the Woodlawn Gift Shop located at Katonah Avenue and East 237th Street, across the street from P.S. 19, the elementary school Gidora attended as a child. Friends quickly arrived afterwards, placing candles and flowers at the site.

 

Because the NYPD has not issued a statement or written report providing details of Gidora’s arrest or death, friends have been left to draw their own conclusions, with some alleging he was arrested for illegally selling MetroCard “swipes,” while others allege he was charged with an old outstanding warrant for carrying an open container of alcohol.

 

On July 12, one male friend of Gidora’s told Norwood News, “I just called Central Booking and they’re telling me that they released him today. Meanwhile, he’s dead.” The friend was referring to Gidora’s vegetative state at Lincoln Hospital where he had been visited and witnessed by friends in a non-responsive state.

 

The friend continued, “There’s a story floating around that he got beat up in central booking, terribly.” In a photo seen by Norwood News of Gidora in Lincoln Hospital, no facial injuries, at least, were visible.

Also on July 12, the same friend said, “I just found out he’s still alive. They’re pulling the plug on him tomorrow.” The friend added, “They [other friends of Gidora] were telling me they found out that he had a seizure, but they don’t think so because he’d never had a seizure.” According to friends of Gidora, he was later taken off life support on July 13.

 

At the memorial by the Woodlawn Gift Shop on Saturday, July 15, one female friend fumed, “How the hell does this happen in police custody?” She added, “If this indeed happened, we want to know! Somebody’s got to be held accountable!”

 

A second female friend added, “You wouldn’t fall and hit your head that hard, no way!” She added, “If you guys (the police) are covering something up, then that’s why. If not, show us the proof and we’ll see he really did have a seizure. He really hit his head, which is unfortunate, but they’re not answering so they’re looking suspicious.”

On July 12, in response to questions about the incident, Lucian Chalfen, director of public information for the New York State Office of Court Administration told Norwood News, “We haven’t heard anything. However, Central Booking is controlled by PD.”

 

On the New York State Court Administration website, it states, “The office is responsible for preparing and distributing press releases and media advisories concerning NYS UCS events.” UCS stands for Unified Court System.

 

Chalfen did not respond to additional questions from Norwood News regarding cameras in the holding cells, and how many deaths there have been, if any, at Bronx Central Booking in the last five years.

 

When contacted for an update on the cause of death, a representative from the Office of the City’s Medical Examiner, said on July 17, “The cause and manner of death remain under investigation by the medical examiner.”

 

As above, the FDNY only confirmed that paramedics were called to Bronx Central Booking at 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, but remained silent when asked for the arrival and departure times from both Bronx Central Booking and Lincoln Hospital, as well as on the type of injuries Gidora suffered.

 

Norwood News has reached out to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for information on Gidora’s arrest and on the circumstances which led to the reported medical episode. We will update this story upon receipt of any information we receive.

 

Meanwhile, friends of Gidora started a GoFundMe page in which they hope to raise $3,000 for a permanent memorial for their friend, who one of his friends called, “The Mayor of Woodlawn.” As of Saturday, July 22, the page has so far raised $1,220.

After donating money to the page, Sam Papadopoulos wrote, “Nicest guy out of all The Bronx. You’ll be missed… Woodlawn won’t be the same without you.” Papadopoulos added, “No matter what you were going through, you were always positive energy… Sad as hell.”

 

Friends of Gidora will gather inside Indian Field of Van Cortlandt Park for the candlelight vigil on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Indian Field is located at 4222 Van Cortlandt Park East and East 235th Street. Attendees are encouraged to bring a candle.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story. 

 

Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this story, it was stated that Gidora was taken off life support on July 14. In fact, according to his friends, it was July 13. We apologize for this error.