Two individuals charged in Bronx murder, accused of using tracking device to steal diamond jewelry from victim.
Two men have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man in the Bronx, a crime that prosecutors allege began with a sinister scheme involving a GPS tracking device. The indictment against Welfy Espinal, 25, and Lenyn Toribio, 27, was unsealed by federal authorities, revealing charges of interstate stalking resulting in death and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking.
The victim, identified as Jeremy Ortega, was shot on April 13, 2025, outside his home on Quincy Avenue, near Hardin Avenue, in the Throggs Neck neighborhood. According to police reports, Ortega was approached and shot twice in the chest at approximately 4:45 a.m. He was transported to Jacobi Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries roughly one hour later.
Espinal, who was apprehended in New Jersey, has a history of arrests, including a previous charge related to possession of a stolen vehicle. Toribio remains at large. The investigation reveals that the two men had been tracking Ortega since March 28, 2025. It was on this day that Toribio allegedly activated a GPS tracking device, which Espinal later affixed to Ortega’s vehicle.
Prosecutors disclosed that a day after placing the tracker, the suspects observed Ortega at a nightclub in Upper Manhattan, where he was adorned with various diamond jewelry items. Subsequently, on April 12, they surveilled Ortega as he dined at a Midtown restaurant before returning home that night. When Ortega arrived, he was met with violence; the suspects allegedly chased him, shot him multiple times, and robbed him of a bag containing his jewelry.
Following the shooting, the assailants made their escape, using several vehicles with a stolen license plate to evade detection. However, law enforcement was able to track the GPS device, which remained attached to Ortega’s car and was registered to Toribio, linking him to the crime.
Ortega was described by neighbors as a considerate individual who would often walk his dog and work as a supervisor in a recycling business. He lived with his family and was known for his lively personality and ability to uplift those around him. The tragic circumstances of his death have prompted calls for justice from his family and friends, who remember him as a caring and spirited member of the community.
The investigation continues as authorities work to locate Toribio, and the case for the remaining suspect moves through the judicial system. Media News Source emphasizes the significance of this case as it reveals the dark undercurrents of crime that can impact communities and the importance of justice in such tragic incidents.
