Bronx man charged after woman, baby pushed off 15th-floor balcony, NYPD says

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcEJD_8PTY0

A Bronx mother was killed after she and her 8-month-old daughter were allegedly pushed from a 15th-floor apartment balcony, and police say the baby survived the devastating fall.

The NYPD has arrested 31-year-old Angel Carrasco, who is accused of pushing 23-year-old Nathaly Ramirez and her infant daughter from the balcony of an apartment building on Olinville Avenue in the Bronx early Tuesday morning.

Ramirez died from her injuries. Her daughter was critically injured but has since been upgraded to stable condition.

Police Say Ramirez Was Holding Her Baby

According to investigators, Ramirez was holding her daughter when the two went over the balcony.

Authorities believe Ramirez's body may have helped cushion the baby's fall, potentially saving her life. U.S. Marshals officials described the young mother as having given her life to protect her child.

Neighbors told investigators they heard screaming and desperate pleas coming from the apartment shortly before the fall.

One neighbor recalled hearing Ramirez plead, “Please don't do this. My baby.”

Carrasco Arrested After Manhunt

Carrasco was arrested late Wednesday night after authorities spent more than a day searching for him.

Police say he was located at a family member's or friend's home in the Bronx after investigators identified him as the primary suspect. His brother reportedly alerted law enforcement.

The NYPD had previously warned that Carrasco should be considered armed and dangerous as officers searched for him.

A History of Domestic Violence

Investigators say Carrasco and Ramirez had been in an on-again, off-again relationship and that the couple had a history of domestic-related police calls.

Police sources also say Carrasco had at least one previous domestic-related arrest. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the confrontation that preceded the deadly fall.

The history has raised renewed concerns among neighbors and advocates about the dangers of domestic violence and whether more could have been done to protect Ramirez.

Charges Filed Against Carrasco

Carrasco is facing multiple charges in connection with the incident, including murder, attempted murder and assault, according to the NYPD. NBC New York also reported additional charges of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.

The allegations have not been proven in court, and Carrasco is presumed innocent unless convicted.

Investigators are continuing to review surveillance footage and other evidence as they reconstruct what happened inside the apartment before Ramirez and her daughter fell.

Neighbors Remember a Young Mother

As investigators searched for Carrasco, neighbors gathered outside the building to mourn Ramirez and leave flowers and candles in her memory.

Friends and former classmates remembered her as a kind, outgoing young woman who cared about the people around her.

Now, the community is left grieving a mother whose final moments were spent trying to protect her child.

For Ramirez's family and neighbors, her death has also become a painful reminder of how quickly domestic violence can turn deadly.

Source: FOX 5 New York