Bronx fruit vendor fatally attacked with baseball bat
Vendor Leslie Sanchez dies after brutal baseball bat attack in the Bronx
The widow of a Bronx fruit vendor who was fatally attacked with a baseball bat earlier this month has called the incident an “injustice.” In an exclusive interview, Maciel Vasquez described her late husband, Leslie Sanchez, 56, as an honest and diligent man who kept to himself.
Sanchez was attacked on East Fordham Road near the Grand Concourse in Morris Heights around 7:40 p.m. on September 12. The attackers, Romel Jarrett, 37, and Terrence Downes, 44, allegedly wrestled him to the ground and struck him in the head with a baseball bat. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition and died on September 14.
Jarrett and Downes were arrested a day before Sanchez passed away and charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. The Bronx DA’s Office mentioned that charges might be upgraded when they are arraigned on a new indictment on October 15.
Two "brutes" beat a longtime Bronx fruit vendor and father of three to death with a baseball bat in an unprovoked attack earlier this month.
Romel Jarrett, 37, and Terrence Downes, 44, wrestled 56-year-old Leslie Sanchez to the ground and bashed him in the head with the bat at… pic.twitter.com/cwPFSrdfdz
— Crime In NYC (@CrimeInNYC) September 25, 2024
Law enforcement sources labelled the attack as unprovoked, although a witness reported seeing a dispute between Sanchez and the attackers. Family friend and former neighbour Autumn Pearson expressed disbelief, stating she never imagined it would be Sanchez who was attacked.
The attack left Sanchez severely injured, requiring a hat to be placed on him in his coffin to conceal the damage. He has since been cremated. Sanchez and Vasquez had two sons and a daughter, the youngest being a baby. Vasquez shared that her children are deeply affected and communicate with their deceased father through his photos.
Jarrett has prior arrests, including a third-degree assault in August and a petit larceny in May 2022, both in the Bronx. Downes’ criminal history includes a 2018 arrest for criminal possession of a controlled substance in East Harlem, an attempted murder charge from December 2002 in Brooklyn, a 2001 Brooklyn assault, and a drug possession charge from two years earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was Leslie Sanchez?
Leslie Sanchez was a longtime Bronx fruit vendor and a father of three.
What happened to Leslie Sanchez?
Leslie Sanchez was beaten to death with a baseball bat during an unprovoked attack.
Who are the alleged attackers?
The alleged attackers are Romel Jarrett and Terrence Downes.
What charges are Jarrett and Downes facing?
They are charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault.
What is Maciel Vasquez asking for?
Maciel Vasquez is asking the police and the governor to do their job.
