Tragedy struck in the Bronx when an 87-year-old man fell victim to a violent home invasion and robbery. According to NBC New York, the elderly man, whose identity remains concealed, was assaulted inside his own apartment at Mitchel Houses in Mott Haven when two men knocked on his door and feigned a delivery from his insurance company. Becoming a victim of pistol-whipping and theft, the assailants left him for their escape in a 2018 black Honda SUV, with the man's wallet, cash, and cellphone.
On that fateful day, the victim, deceived by a seemingly innocuous envelope seen through his door's peephole, opened the door only to be overpowered by the men. According to the same NBC New York report, the man was thrown onto his bed, choked, and tied up with bed sheets while being interrogated for money he claimed not to possess. Bearing the brunt of his age, the man's attempts to defend himself were to no avail. He recounted the harrowing experience saying, "Lot of blood come out, lot of blood," after one of the attackers pistol-whipped him, leaving him in need of stitches.
Simultaneously, CBS News reported the victim's name as William Cortes, citing a statement obtained by his daughter, Willi Marie Cortes. She arrived home to the chaos of a ransacked apartment and her father suffering from bruises and a bloodied forehead. She raised concerns that her father may have been specifically targeted, noting, "They also said, 'Where's the money?' That shows they had information of there was money here, even though there wasn't any money."
With both suspects still at large, the aftermath of the attack has left Cortes living in fear. Each knock at the door now shatters the peace he once felt in his home of 30 years. "I'm feeling scared, you know? I don't go down anyway," Cortes told CBS News. The NYPD is actively seeking information from the public; if one has any relevant details, they are urged to contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline. The community's assistance in this case is invaluable as these two assailants remain free, potentially posing a threat to other vulnerable individuals in the neighborhood.
