Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. today announced the indictment of CARLOS RAMIREZ, 48, for the murder of 63-year-old Bernardo Gonzalez Perez, a grocery store worker, who was killed sweeping outside a store in West Harlem earlier this month. RAMIREZ is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Murder in the Second Degree.[1]
“As alleged, Carlos Ramirez beat a hard working grocery store worker to death,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Mr. Perez’s passing has left his family distraught and heartbroken and I share in the significant pain they are currently experiencing. All store employees deserve to be safe on the job. I want them to know that we are treating this tragedy with the utmost seriousness and will pursue accountability to the full extent of the law.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record, on July 7, 2023, at around noon, Perez was sweeping the sidewalk in front of the store. RAMIREZ approached him, picked up a large plank of wood from the ground and struck Perez over the head several times, causing bruises, bumps and lacerations. Perez was taken to the hospital where he was in and out of consciousness. He eventually passed away several days later. RAMIREZ was arrested at the scene.
Assistant D.A.s Rachel Polisner and Jonathan Carfagno are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Robert Ferrari (Chief of Trial Bureau 40) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Assistant D.A. Ashley Maldonado de la Fuente (Trial Bureau 40) also provided valuable assistance.
D.A. Bragg thanked Detective Heriberto Vasquez (Manhattan Homicide); Detective Elizabeth Tavera (30th Precinct Detective Squad); Detective Wilder Sanchez (30th Precinct Detective Squad); responding police officers from the 30th Precinct and CUNY Department of Public Safety.
Defendant Information:
CARLOS RAMIREZ
New York, NY
Charged:
- Murder in the Second Degree, a class A-I felony, one count
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
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