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FILE – Police at a crime scene in a Manhattan park.
File photo/Dean Moses
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When Vianel Garcia was dropped off by her friend at Riverside Park on Sunday to meet with her son Miguel Duval, police officials said the mother noticed something odd: His hands were bleeding.
Law enforcement sources still don’t know what caused those injuries, but they were able to piece together the events that followed which led to Garcia’s violent death off an embankment in the park that afternoon — and her son being charged with the heinous crime.
Police officials said the doting 44-year-old mother tried to persuade her 25-year-old, over 6 foot tall and 250-pound son to go to the emergency room to get his hands checked — but he told her that he wanted to eat first.
After getting lunch at Chipotle, police officials said, the pair sat on a bench near West 165 Street and Riverside Drive at around 4 p.m. on July 14.
Moments later, witnesses screamed in horror, Officers from the 33rd Precinct rushed to the scene, and came upon the terrifying sight.
“They basically both fall down a kind of ravine area onto an embankment near the Henry Hudson Parkway. People hear the woman still screaming. The screaming suddenly becomes muffled,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. “He is covered in scratches and covered in blood. The perpetrator tries to flee the scene on foot. Patrol officers respond, they quickly apprehend him after a brief foot pursuit.”
Kenny reported that Garcia suffered what he described as blunt force trauma with massive facial injuries; skull fragments were even left scattered at the scene.
“He actually beat the earrings off her,” Kenny remarked.
Police believe Duval allegedly also bashed his mother’s head into a brick wall, and beat her with a stick and bottle. Chief Kenny said Duval allegedly admitted to the slaying, claiming Garcia was abusive.
The pair once lived together in Harlem, according to police. More recently, Duval had been staying in a Washington Heights homeless shelter. Police did not comment on why he was no longer staying with his mother.
Duval has one prior arrest for criminal trespassing and was being seen by a psychiatrist. He has been charged with murder.
NYPD detectives are hunting for Lenue Moore after the Friday murder of Jacqueline Billini, 57, and Levaugh Harvin, 42, NBC 4 reported.
A wanted poster with Moore’s mugshot has been circulating around Washington Heights as cops continue to track the suspect down.
Police investigate after two people and a dog were fatally shot on W. 164th St. and Edgecombe Ave. in Washington Heights Friday. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News)
Billini and Harvin were walking their dogs past Highbridge Park along Edgecombe Ave. near W. 165th St. when a man clad in black stormed up and shot them both in the head about 6:30 p.m., police said.
Billini’s pit bull, Zeus, was also shot dead before the gunman ran off, cops said. Harvin’s dog wasn’t harmed.
Harvin’s two children were walking ahead of the dog walkers and witnessed the shooting, Luis Billini, Jacqueline’s nephew, told the Daily News.
“(Harvin’s) kids were walking in front and they heard the shots and saw them dropping,” Luis said.
Harvin and Billini died at the scene.
Lenue Moore (NYPD)
“She had a heart of gold and touched the lives of everyone she encountered,” Billini’s daughters Nathalie and Iliana wrote on a GoFundMe post seeking donations for the state court employee’s burial costs. “Jackie was always there for her friends and family, offering unwavering support and love. Her sudden departure has left a void in our family and community that can never be filled.”
Detectives quickly linked the double killing to Moore, a neighbor of Billini who was arrested following a harrowing incident April 11, when he kicked in the door of Billini’s apartment armed with a hammer and attacked her and her family.
“He lived next door. He had mental issues from what the DA said,” Luis Billini said. “He’s not even on that lease, it’s under his parents name.”
“The guy is a bad individual, he disrespects the elderly,” he added. “Elderly is someone you supposed to respect. You respect women, children, the elderly.”
Moore was upset over constant barking coming from Billini’s W. 163rd St. apartment, Billini’s relatives say. Besides Zeus, Billini had two other dogs — Blue, who is Zeus’ mom, and Zina.
Police investigate after two people and a dog were fatally shot on W. 164th St. and Edgecombe Ave. in Washington Heights Friday. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News)
The April attack was caught on video. According to court documents, when Moore kicked in Billini’s door it slammed into her so hard it broke her right arm.
Billini’s relatives rushed over to hold the door shut but the neighbor continued to kick the door in, swiping at them with a hammer when the door opened wide enough, the video shows.
“There was four people at the door and he was still able to muscle through,” Luis Billini said. “He’s a big guy, like 290 pounds. You can tell by the video he’s a strong man.”
Two of Billini’s relatives were struck with the hammer but weren’t seriously injured, prosecutors said.
Moore, 31, was arrested and released on $5,000 bail after arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.
He was later indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on charges of burglary and assault with a weapon with intent to injure, among other charges. A judge authorized orders of protection for Billini and her family, forcing him to move out of the building, Luis said.
Moore moved in with a friend a few blocks away, relatives said.
Police investigate after two people and a dog were fatally shot on W. 164th St. and Edgecombe Ave. in Manhattan, on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News)
“The dogs didn’t even attack (Moore),” Luis added. “They’re friendly so like why would he get crazy about them?”
Months after the attack in her apartment, Jacqueline Billini still felt menaced, friends and relatives said.
During one recent nightly walk with Zeus, someone drove up to Billini and told her “You’re going to die,” Luis said.
A friend of Jacqueline Bellini said Harvin had been accompanying her on her walks for the past two or three weeks as an informal bodyguard.
Harvin “was like family to her,” said the friend, Janet Santana.
“She was a nice neighbor — she was the best neighbor. She had no problems with anyone.”
Billini worked as an analyst for the state court system in the Bronx and was close to retirement, her nephew said.
“She worked 25 to 30 years with the government and then this happens,” he said.
“It’s impossible for someone who served our country for 25 years to be done like this. A woman who was about to retire shouldn’t have to live that way, just constantly watching over her shoulder. It’s ridiculous.”
