Second suspect arrested in the murder of former friend and theft of diamond jewelry in the Bronx.
In a significant development in a high-profile murder case, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of Lenyn Toribio, 27, more than a year after a fatal shooting in the Bronx that claimed the life of 24-year-old Jeremy Ortega. The police apprehended Toribio on Wednesday at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the Bronx, following a federal indictment unsealed in June that charged him and his co-defendant, Welfy Espinal, 25, with interstate stalking that led to Ortega’s death. Both men face multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder.
The incident unfolded on April 13, 2025, when Ortega was shot multiple times outside his home in the Throggs Neck neighborhood of the Bronx. According to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, the perpetrators meticulously planned the attack, beginning with the activation of a GPS tracking device on Ortega’s vehicle on March 28, 2025, deployed under the car by Espinal days prior. This technology facilitated the duo’s movements as they stalked Ortega, tracing him to a nightclub in Upper Manhattan where they observed him wearing valuable diamond jewelry.
On April 12, 2025, Espinal and Toribio followed Ortega to a Midtown restaurant before conducting surveillance in the neighborhood surrounding Ortega’s home. Court documents reveal that they spent around ten minutes circling the block, returning to the scene shortly before Ortega arrived. In a chilling sequence of events, the assailants confronted Ortega, shot him, and made off with a bag containing his diamond jewelry.
The crime has left a devastating impact on Ortega’s family. His mother, Yokasta Ortega, expressed her harrowing experience during the attack, recounting the moment she saw her son being pursued by his attackers. She described the anguish of witnessing her son’s struggle and the desperate plea for his life.
Brianna Ortega, Jeremy’s sister, revealed that Espinal had once been a close friend of her brother’s, a fact that adds a layer of complexity to the tragic circumstances surrounding Jeremy’s death. Both Espinal and Toribio remain in custody as the case continues to develop, highlighting broader issues of violence and crime in urban areas. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of criminal activity driven by greed and betrayal within personal relationships.
As the investigation progresses, the charges against both suspects will likely evolve, reflecting the ongoing nature of this troubling case.
