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District Attorney Adds Two Suspects to Staten Island's Most Wanted List

By Nicholas Rizzi | February 27, 2015 1:01pm
 Mark Ortiz, 30, (left) and Arthur Williams, 27, were added to Staten Island's "most wanted" list by District Attorney Dan Donovan on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.
Mark Ortiz, 30, (left) and Arthur Williams, 27, were added to Staten Island's "most wanted" list by District Attorney Dan Donovan on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015.
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Staten Island District Attorney's Office

STATEN ISLAND — District Attorney Dan Donovan added two suspects to Staten Island's "most wanted" list on Thursday.

Mark Ortiz, 30, was added to the list because police suspect he fatally shot Barry Lovelace, 17, with a semi-automatic pistol while Lovelace sat on a couch inside an apartment at 806 Henderson Ave. on Feb. 16, Donovan said.

Arthur Williams, 27, was indicted in June 2014 as part of a takedown of two violent Staten Island gangs that sold drugs mainly near Jersey Street in West Brighton, dubbed "Operation Jersey Boys."

"Bringing these men to justice and holding them accountable for their crimes is a top priority for my office,” Donovan said in a statement.

Police said Ortiz fired shots into Lovelace's arm, chest and torso and caused wounds to his heart, lung, spleen and bowels, Donovan said. Security camera footage shows the suspect entering and exiting the building.

Detectives believe he might be hiding in The Bronx or Pennsylvania, Donovan said. 

Donovan said Ortiz is considered armed and dangerous. He was arrested earlier this year for aggravated harassment and last year in Queens, according to online court records.

Lovelace, a Staten Island resident, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Williams was indicted for working with others to receive, package and distribute cocaine in New Brighton, Donovan said. He also sold cocaine to undercover officers at least two times during the sting, Donovan said.

"Operation Jersey Boys" resulted in the arrest of nearly 24 people linked to selling heroin and cocaine and to 29 shootings in the borough since 2008, including three homicides, Donovan said.

Williams was indicted on two counts of conspiracy and three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, Donovan said.

His last known addresses were 151 Jersey St. and 24 Van Tuyl St., Donovan said.

If you have information regarding the whereabouts of any of these individuals, call the Richmond County District Attorney’s Tip Line at (718) 556-7030.