STATEN ISLAND — A mother and son were killed in a triple-shooting that wounded another man at their apartment building in Mariners Harbor Thursday night, police said.
Anthony Rivera, 21, was with his 22-year-old friend working on his car outside the Mariner's Harbor Houses at 14 Roxbury St., near Lockman Avenue, about 6:11 p.m. when their neighbor, Anthony Morales, 49, opened fire on them, according to the victim's father and police.
Rivera was hit three times in the head and his friend was struck three times in the leg, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
Rivera's mother, Idelle Rivera, 47, was nearby and rushed over, but then tried to reverse direction and flee as Morales shot her once in the head, police and family said.
The Riveras were pronounced dead at Richmond University Medical Center, where the friend was treated for critical injuries and listed in stable condition, police said.
Anthony Morales fatally shot a mother and son and wounded another man in Staten Island, police said. (NYPD and DNAinfo/Nicholas Rizzi)
Morales fled the scene and was not immediately arrested, police said. He may have been driving a black 2013 Hyundai Elantra with Pennsylvania plates reading JWM6448, officials said.
He is about 5 feet 9 inches and 200 pounds and was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, tan cargo pants and black shoes, police said.
Morales had accused Rivera and his friend of vandalizing his car, said his father, Antonio Pena, 56.
"He was always harassing them," he said.
"I told them to leave the guy alone," Pena added.
Earlier Thursday afternoon, another relative ran into Morales who shot him dirty looks, the father said.
"I didn't like that guy," Pena said.
The NYPD offered $2,500 for information about Morales' whereabouts.
#Wanted for a double homicide on #StatenIsland on 3/24. Any info call #800577TIPS #Reward #yourcityyourcall pic.twitter.com/0XC1Rb7NQs
— Chief Robert Boyce (@NYPDDetectives) March 25, 2016
The last time Pena saw his son, he'd given him $20 so he could shave and cut his hair for his first day as a security officer at the hospital he would later be pronounced dead at, the dad said.
"He was so happy. He said, 'Now, I can fix my car. I can help you,'" Pena said.
"I didn't see him no more after that," the father said, weeping.
Idelle was a grandmother by her other son, Ariel, Pena said.
"She was a great wife, a great grandmother," he added. "She could solve a problem so easy for anybody."
"They were great people. They loved each other so much. We were always sticking together," the devastated father said.
