Credit: NYPD
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Bronx, NY (77WABC) — NYPD Detectives from the 49th Precinct in the Bronx are actively searching for a person — who they believe was involved in a Pelham Gardens homicide — after discovering an elderly man’s body stuffed in a shed on Tuesday.
Early Wednesday evening, the NYPD released photos and surveillance video of the suspect wanted in the brutal crime. Police believe the suspect, wearing a yellow construction hat, a neon green construction reflective vest, black reflective pants and driving a Herc Rentals white pick-up truck with orange and yellow construction cones, as depicted in the video was involved in death of 91-year-old Nicholas Rappa of Wickham Avenue in the Bronx.
911 calls were made on Tuesday afternoon of a robbery call at 2400 Wickham Avenue just after 12:30pm. Authorities say when officers arrived they found the victim, in the garage, unconscious, with several injuries to his head.
Investigators also say the victim’s hands were bound behind his back and he had defense lacerations up-and-down both of his arms.
The 25-second surveillance video shows the white pick-up van with cones pull up to the front of the home. Moments later it then cuts to the suspect dashing away from the home, with an unknown object in his hand, before jumping into the described truck and taking off.
Pictures of the suspect were also released by the NYPD as well.
The crime on this working class street, with many of the homes occupied by elder individuals have sent shockwaves through the quaint Pelham Gardens community.
The NYPD believes the suspect did not enter the home, where his wife was waiting inside. But authorities believe the victim allowed the suspect into an attached garage of the home.
The New York City Medical Examiner will determine how Mr. Rappa died. No arrest have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
