A man from the Bronx was tragically killed in a hail of gunfire when he exited his residence on Monday morning, according to authorities.
46-year-old Denver Bernard lost his life in a tragic incident when he was shot multiple times by an unidentified gunman. The assailant emerged from a dark-colored vehicle near the intersection of E. 216th St. and Laconia Ave. in Williamsbridge around 8 a.m. and indiscriminately opened fire. Tragically, Bernard succumbed to his injuries right outside his residence.
According to a police source, he recently moved to New York from Jamaica.
According to a landlady who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, Bernard was described as a “good person” who had come to the United States with the intention of earning money for his family.
“I feel a deep sadness and heartbreak for him and his family,” expressed the 39-year-old landlady in a conversation with the Daily News.
“He’s been living here as a tenant for approximately a year,” she shared. “Originally from Jamaica, he has children back home. His motive for coming here was to support his family.”
Recounting her conversation with Bernard, she added that he had been working in construction just before the monstrous ambush occurred.
“I witnessed him standing on the porch, waiting to be picked up, right before he was shot,” she recounted. “As I stepped outside, I greeted him with a ‘good morning,’ and he responded with the same warm greeting to me and my children.”
Bernard met his demise just moments later.
Sydney Okpulor, a 42-year-old neighbor, expressed her shock at the unfortunate incident that took place in their community. Recalling the distressing scene, she mentioned that there were at least 11 shots fired, resulting in a tragic loss of life. The victim’s lifeless body lay there for hours, causing fear and anxiety among the residents. Sydney herself became apprehensive, particularly because her son had recently left for school. The entire neighborhood was left in a state of confusion and disbelief as they tried to ascertain the identity of the deceased individual.
According to an anonymous 59-year-old lawyer who spoke to the News, she witnessed two separate bursts of gunfire, with at least seven shots fired in each burst.
“The lawyer observed that the individual had discharged his firearm, remarking, ‘It appears that they were specifically targeting him, given the severity of the gunshot wounds.'”
“It was just silence,” she recalled, describing the moment. “When I came to the realization that it was a body, there was a blood-soaked blanket covering him.”
According to The News, Bernard’s landlady expressed her belief that he was not the intended target of the incident, stating, “I think they got the wrong person.”
According to Bernard’s landlady, he had been living in his apartment with a cousin who was also from Jamaica.
According to the police, Bernard was on his way to work when he got shot. They also mentioned that he had no criminal record.
The perpetrator responsible for his death remains at large.