Scaffolding across the street from an apartment building in New York, US, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A 73-year-old man died while trying to escape his sixth-floor apartment from home invaders. Jacinto Ramirez passed away in Washington Heights, New York City, on Nov. 23 after climbing out the window.
According to surveillance footage from CBS, Jacinto Ramirez’s building is surrounded by scaffolding. One of the home invaders used the scaffolding to enter the building. The suspect then took the elevator to the sixth floor and let the two other suspects in. They had climbed the building using the fire escape. Once inside the apartment, the suspects tied up a 40-year-old man who was also in the apartment with Jacinto. The other victim is believed to be the 73-year-old’s relative, per reports cited by PEOPLE.
While the suspects were busy with the other man, Jacinto Ramirez tried to climb out the window. His friend, Heriberto Garica, told NBC that he witnessed the 73-year-old climb out, step on the ledge and try to reach another window. However, an air conditioning was in the way, and the senior ultimately fell and landed on the scaffolding. The fall happened right before five a.m. Emergency responders transported him to Harlem Hospital, but doctors later pronounced him dead. The 40-year-old man reportedly wasn’t hurt during the break-in.
Police have yet to name suspects in the case. It’s also unknown if the home invaders knew Jacinto or the other victim. Amid Ramirez’s deadly fall, the suspects still robbed his home and reportedly took an $8,000 gold chain and $200 in cash.
Police are asking the public to speak up if there’s any information to provide in the case by contacting NYPD’s Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), their website, or X account @NYPDtips.
