AVP has learned of the hook-up homicide of a 68-year-old gay identified man in the Bronx. According media reports (trigger warning for extreme violence), the victim was found dead and mutilated in his bathtub inside an apartment on Sheridan Avenue in Claremont on Friday, December 2nd, 2016. Jerry Pagan, age 32, who is homeless, was arrested and charged in connection with the homicide. Media is reporting that the homicide may have been motivated by an unpaid debt within the context of sex work.
AVP has reached out to the office of New York City Councilmember Vanessa Gibson, the office of Public Advocate Letitia James, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, the LGBT Liaison to the Police Commissioner, and the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau.
TAKE ACTION WITH AVP
In response, AVP will be engaging in outreach in the Bronx in the weeks ahead. We will post outreach details as soon as they have been confirmed on our Facebook page and on AVP’s events calendar. AVP’s Real Talks Community Action Committee, a community and survivor-led working group that addresses intimate partner violence and sexual violence within LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities, meets monthly at AVP. To get involved, contact LaLa Zannell atlzannell@avp.org.
AVP IS HERE FOR YOU 24/7
AVP encourages you to report violence you experience or witness to our free and confidential 24-hour bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline at 212-714-1141 where you can speak with a trained counselor and seek support. You can also report violence anonymously online or ask for a counselor to reach out to you.
HELP AVP MAKE THE CITY SAFER FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
Find out more about AVP at our website, avp.org, and get regular updates on our ongoing work on Facebook.com/antiviolence or Twitter @antiviolence, to get involved and make a difference.