THE BRONX — A Morrisania man wanted for the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy and the attempted murder of another man fainted in the courtroom Monday after hearing the charges against him, authorities said.
Travis Bloch, 28, collapsed to the floor at his arraignment when he was told he could face 25 years to life for gunning down Christopher Duran, who was headed to school on May 22, and wounding another man in the face on May 16, according to the Bronx District Attorney's office.
Bloch, who has an extensive criminal history for domestic violence, drug dealing and assaulting an officer, stayed on the floor for several minutes until he could be revived and placed in a chair for the remainder of the hearing in Bronx Criminal Court, the DA's spokeswoman Terry Raskyn said.
Investigators also linked the gun Bloch used in both shootings to a third attempted murder that took place in April, they said. Another man was charged for that crime.
Christopher Duran was shot three times — twice in the torso and once in the head, a spokesman for the NYPD said.
The teenager was walking out of his building about 8:30 a.m. with his younger brother near 1174 Sheridan Ave. on his way to school, family members and police said.
Duran got into an argument on the street with two people, one of whom is believed to be Bloch, when the suspect took out a gun and shot him, sources said. Bloch and the other man fled south on Sheridan Avenue afterwards, police said.
Prosecutors also claim that Bloch shot a man in the face on May 16 at about 1 p.m. at 1420 Grand Concourse.
In addition to the murder and attempted murder charges Bloch now faces, he also faces charges for selling marijuana and assaulting a police officer in 2014, Raskyn said.
"F*** this I'm not going," he shouted at police, on February 7, 2014, when he fought with two officers at his apartment 3463 Third Ave after a battered woman had said he hit her, prosecutors said.
Bloch has 27 arrests dating back to 2006, police said.
Bloch's lawyer, Brian Arthur, could not immediately be reached for comment. He's due back in Bronx Supreme Court on Friday, prosecutors said.
Police say they are still hunting for 16-year-old Jeremiah "Jay" Thomas who is also wanted in connection with the murder of Duran.
