THE BRONX — A Bronx man is facing the death sentence after he was arrested Monday and charged in connection with the murder of a 29-year-old mother during an outdoor party in the Adams Houses last spring, federal prosecutors said.
Stiven Siri-Reynoso, 24, was busted in The Bronx after someone fired into a crowd and hit Jessica White while she was hanging out in a courtyard behind 700 Westchester Ave. near East 152nd Street on June 11, 2016, according to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim.
White, who had two children, was not the intended target, sources said, and died after being rushed to Lincoln Hospital.
Siri-Reynoso was not the shooter, but was charged with "aiding and abetting the murder of Jessica White," a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office told DNAinfo New York.
Federal prosecutors did not say how Siri-Reynoso helped in the murder or why he was being charged with a federal crime. They did not provide further information on who the shooter was.
The Bronx man was charged with murder through the use of a firearm in the aid racketeering, and aiding and abetting, a criminal indictment stated.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office could also not say if they believed the shooting was gang-related.
Siri-Reynoso pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Manhattan Federal Court Monday afternoon and was held without bail.
He is facing a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, officials said.
His lawyer did not return an immediate request for comment.
Correction: A previous version of this story said Siri-Reynoso fatally shot White based on a statement from prosecutors Monday. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office told DNAinfo New York Tuesday that he was actually charged with "aiding and abetting" the murder without elaborating further on the case.
