Twenty-year-old Justin Animo is dead, and four others, including his fourteen-year-old brother, are recovering from gunshot wounds after a brazen ambush outside a fast-food stall on Tuesday night in Lord’s Bank Village. Just after 9:20 p.m., two men on a motorcycle pulled up and opened fire on a group of young men who were simply hanging out. Among the injured are Jayden Martinez, Jose Rodriguez, and Emerson Jeffords. The youngest victim, Animo’s teenage brother, was treated and released, but Justin, believed to be the intended target, didn’t survive. Back at the scene, bullet holes in the food shack’s wall serve as chilling reminders of the violence. Police say a small-caliber weapon was used, and early investigations suggest this wasn’t gang-related, but rather, tied to a domestic dispute. Tanya Arceo brings us the following story.
What started as a casual hangout outside a small fast-food shack in Lord’s Bank turned into a deadly ambush Tuesday night. Five young men were socializing when two individuals on a motorcycle pulled up and opened fire. Twenty-year-old Justin Animo was fatally wounded and later died, while four others, including his fourteen-year-old brother, were injured. The other victims have been identified as Jayden Martinez, Jose Rodriguez, and Emerson Jeffords. Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado says one suspect is already in custody, and investigators are on the hunt for two more. While the murder weapon hasn’t been found, authorities believe a small-caliber firearm was used. Rosado also confirmed that none of the victims had criminal records, and current intelligence suggests this wasn’t gang related. Instead, it appears to have stemmed from a domestic dispute, with Justin believed to be the intended target.
Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police
“On July twenty ninth, about nine twenty PM police responded to a shooting incident in the Lords Bank area where five individuals received gunshot injuries. Our initial investigation revealed that they were socializing in a yard in the Lords Bank area when a motorcycle with two individuals approached them and the passenger opened fire at them, injuring five of them. One of the individuals later succumbed to his injuries. We have one person in custody, and we are looking for two other people of interest.”
Tanya Arceo
“Do you know if this was targeted or if the victims were known to the suspects?”
“We are practically looking at several different theories and one of the theories is domestic related and I won’t want to go further into that.”
Commissioner Rosado says investigators reached that conclusion based on the type of injuries the victims sustained, and the ballistic evidence collected at the scene.
“We have multiple shots were fired at individuals.”
Reporter
“Was it an automatic type weapon?”
“From the information that we have gathered it was a small caliber fire that was used.”
Justin Animo’s death marks another life lost to gun violence and tonight his family is left to grieve while his fourteen-year-old brother recovers from the same attack.
Dr. Richard Rosado
“We have definitely ruled out they are not associated or a member of any criminal group and they have never been detained or arrested by police.”
At the crime scene, bullet holes in the food stall wall are a stark reminder of Tuesday night’s violence. Police say they are following strong leads and hope to bring those responsible to justice. The investigation remains ongoing. I am Tanya Arceo, News Five.