A 21-year-old man was shot and killed late Thursday outside a Morris Heights apartment tower, according to police. Officers responding just after 10 p.m. to 30 Richman Plaza found Justin Chatfield with a gunshot wound to the torso. EMS rushed him to SBH Health System, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a person of interest was taken into custody and that detectives have opened an investigation into the killing.
Officers were initially called to the River Park Towers address for a reported assault and discovered Chatfield in critical condition, according to News 12 Bronx. The outlet reports that EMS took him to SBH Health System, but he later died from his injuries, and that a person of interest was taken into custody while detectives remained on scene to investigate.
Where it happened
30 Richman Plaza is part of River Park Towers, a cluster of high-rise residential buildings on Richman Plaza that includes 10, 20, 30 and 40 Richman Plaza, according to Wikipedia. The complex and nearby blocks have seen violence before, including a fatal shooting in Morris Heights last November reported by amNY, which has kept safety concerns very much alive for some residents.
Citywide context
The shooting comes just as city officials have been touting historic declines in murders and shooting incidents through the first quarter of 2026, according to data released by the city. A transcript from the Mayor’s Office notes that the Bronx has recorded a 9.4 percent drop in major crime. City leaders credit focused enforcement and prevention work, even as individual acts of gun violence continue to rattle neighborhoods.
Police response
The Morris Heights neighborhood falls within the NYPD’s 46th Precinct, which patrols the area around Richman Plaza, according to the NYPD. Police say detectives are investigating the shooting and that a person of interest was taken into custody.
If you have information
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or submit a tip online. Details about the program and how to report tips are outlined by the New York City Police Foundation. Officials say tips may be submitted anonymously and could qualify for a reward.
