BRONX, N.Y. – Two men have been indicted in connection with the fatal beating of a street fruit vendor on Fordham Road, allegedly attacking the vendor with a baseball bat following a dispute over theft accusations. The Bronx District Attorney announced the charges on Friday.
Terrence Downes, 44, of Queens, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. He was arraigned in Bronx Supreme Court, where the judge continued his remand. Downes is scheduled to appear in court again on December 23. Romel Jarrett, 37, of the Bronx, faces a first-degree manslaughter charge and will be arraigned at a later date.
The incident occurred on September 12, 2024, when the defendants allegedly engaged in an argument with 56-year-old Leslie Sanchez, the owner of a fruit stand, after Sanchez accused them of theft. The confrontation escalated and moved into the Fordham Road subway station, but Sanchez later returned to the street. At that point, the defendants allegedly approached him from behind with a baseball bat and began to strike him.
According to the investigation, Sanchez was hit in the head seven times after falling to the ground. He was transported to Saint Barnabas Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on September 14.
“The defendants allegedly beat the victim with a baseball bat after he confronted them for stealing from his fruit stand,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. “The victim was repeatedly clubbed in the head and died two days later. The defendants will be held accountable for this brutality.”