NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Last week’s stabbing in the Financial District that killed one teen migrant and injured another appears to be gang-related and not a hate crime, as initially speculated, an NYPD official said Monday as police released images of three suspects sought in the killing.
It appears two groups got into a dispute and began attacking each other with weapons at John Street and Broadway, around 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 5, police said.
Yeremi Colino, 17, was stabbed in the chest and died at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, according to police, who said he was a resident of the Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter.
An 18-year-old man who was with Colino was stabbed in the left arm and is recovering from his injuries.
Reports last week that one of the people in the opposing group asked Colino’s group if they spoke English led to speculation the stabbing may have been a hate-motivated crime, but now it appears to be gang-related, according to the NYPD. The question about English was heard by a 911 caller, but police no longer believe the question was asked.
“All indications at this point, as far as motive is concerned, is that this is a crew motive,” said Jason Savino, assistant chief at the NYPD Detective Bureau, adding gang signs were flashed as the two groups confronted each other in the street.
“An additional witness who participated in the fight on the victim's side does relay that gang signs were flashed by the group,” Colino said, “and their response was they wanted to confront them as to why you flash gang signs.”
Savino added, “Ultimately, two groups engaged, and I will say this, both sides—both had weapons.”
Colino swung an object in a downward motion “just prior to being stabbed,” Savino said. Responding officers later found him “bleeding heavily” with a knife sticking out of his chest.
Various weapons were recovered at the scene, including the knife, as well as two wooden sticks and a pair of pliers, police said.
Colino said the investigation has led police to determine that “a Los Diablos crew that we know of, 42nd Street, did vow revenge on this,” adding it points to “a little bit of a gang beef.”
No arrests have been reported as the search for the suspects continues. They fled southbound on Broadway and were last seen entering the Fulton Street subway station.
The stabbing was the fourth homicide reported this year in the NYPD’s 1st Precinct, a precinct that saw no homicides in 2023.