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Man Shot and Killed on Bronx Street Near Memorial for Slain Man

By DNAinfo Staff on April 26, 2012 8:42am

A man was shot to death standing next to a memorial on Webster Avenue in The Bronx for a man slain less than a year earlier.
A man was shot to death standing next to a memorial on Webster Avenue in The Bronx for a man slain less than a year earlier.
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DNAinfo/Jesse Lent

By Jesse Lent and Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo Staff

BRONX — A man was shot to death on a violence-prone Fordham street late Wednesday while visiting a memorial for another man killed at the same spot a year ago, police and friends said.

Jonathan Lewis, 22, of East 184th Street, was found with two gunshot wounds to the chest in front of 2427 Webster Ave., after police responded to a 911 call about 10:34 p.m., NYPD officials said.

He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital and pronounced dead.

Police searched the area and discovered the suspected gunman, Darrell Patillo, 18, underneath a van in front of 312 E. 187th St., cops said.

Residents of the Webster Avenue building said the memorial sprouted up to mark the birthday of another man, Michael Ikoli, who lived at the address and was gunned down there less than a year ago. 

One of the victim's friends said Lewis visited the memorial Wednesday night to honor the slain man.

"He was friends with Ikoli," said Sammara Foster, 28, who called Lewis "an awesome person."

"He was there paying his respects. He was going to light a candle and leave."

Neighbors said violence has plagued the area and expressed relief that the alleged gunman was nabbed.

"Finally somebody gets caught, because nobody gets caught," said Tahina Acosta, 35, who's lived in the building for the last nine years. "I've seen so much stuff on this block — it’s too much."

A 13-year tenant of the building said she "hit the floor" when the gunfire erupted, adding that a bullet flew through her window during a shooting two years ago,

"A lot of people don’t want to live in neighborhoods like this, but they have no choice," said Cheryl Brown, 51. "I’ve seen a lot."

Residents described hearing about four gunshots before seeing Lewis lying just feet from the memorial. They added that he was standing with others at the vigil when the fatal shots were fired.

"It’s ridiculous," Brown added. "You go out for a loaf of bread, and you pray."

Patillo, of Walton Avenue, was arrested and a .38-caliber revolver was recovered from the scene, police said. He was charged with second-degree murder and criminal weapons possession.

A police source said both men have criminal histories, and that Patillo has five prior arrests, including ones for robbery and drug sales.