| Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of JAIME ROSARIO, 55, for fatally punching his coworker, 53-year-old Efrain Patino Guerra, outside the Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square hotel in June 2024. The punch caused Mr. Patino Guerra to hit his head on the pavement, resulting in a traumatic brain injury which led to his death ten days later. ROSARIO is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Manslaughter in the First Degree and Criminally Negligent Homicide. [1]
“As alleged, Jaime Rosario punched and critically injured Efrain Patino Guerra in a brutal attack over a work-related dispute,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Unfortunately, Mr. Patino Guerra succumbed to his injuries and was tragically taken from his family, friends and loved ones. I thank our prosecutors for securing upgraded charges, which are indicative of the seriousness of the conduct alleged, and my thoughts remain with Mr. Patino Guerra’s family as they continue mourning his loss.” According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, Mr. Patino Guerra worked as a taxi dispatcher and was assigning rides outside of the Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square hotel, near West 47th Street and 7th Avenue. On June 17, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., ROSARIO, who worked with Mr. Patino Guerra, approached and confronted Mr. Patino Guerra over a dispute on the assignment of rides. As Mr. Patino Guerra attempted to walk away, ROSARIO followed and yelled at him. Eventually, ROSARIO punched Mr. Patino Guerra once in the jaw, causing him to fall to the sidewalk and hit the back of his head. ROSARIO fled the scene, leaving Mr. Patino Guerra lying on the sidewalk. A few minutes later, emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and transported Mr. Patino Guerra to Bellevue Hospital. He underwent multiple surgeries but never regained consciousness, and died because of his traumatic brain injury on June 27, 2024. ROSARIO was arrested on June 24, 2024, by the NYPD Warrants Squad. Assistant D.A. Abel McDonnell is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Erin Tierney (Chief of Trial Bureau 30) and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Paralegal Theodore Bellak (Trial Bureau 30) and Senior Investigative Analyst Isabel Long (Trial Bureau 30) are providing invaluable assistance in this case. D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, Detective Jay Poggi of the Midtown North Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Yeoman Castro of the Manhattan South Homicide Squad.
Defendant Information: JAIME ROSARIO Yonkers, NY Charged:
### [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. |
D.A. Bragg Announces Manslaughter Indictment Of Man For Fatal Punch Of Midtown Taxi Dispatcher
October 23, 2024