On Friday night at 9:00, 57 year old market vendor Miguel Rivera was in front of the Michael Finnegan market socializing with some other vendors when a crew of three men pulled up, and one of them shot him - not attempted robbery, no threats, they just opened fire.
Almost inexplicable….but his fellow vendors believe that it may have been related to a robbery attempt that happened earlier in the day when Rivera interceded to stop it. They believe the trio was getting back at him for witnessing a robbery attempt earlier in the day. The worst part though is hat his family says it is a case of mistaken identity; Rivera did not witness the robbery; he was only wearing the jacket of the man who did - and that may have led to the mix up.
It is a crazy and deeply disturbing story and tonight police have charged two men: they are 23 year old RONLEE PETILLO, and 18 year old MATTHEW SMITH for MURDER.
But Ronlee's sister and girlfriend say police have got the wrong man - and they told us why:…
Kamisha Shiel, Girlfriend
"His 48 hours was to up this evening but just because his time was running up they charge him."
Jules Vasquez
"How do you conclude that they charge him only because his 48 hours was about to finish?"
Kamisha Shiel, Girlfriend
"Because the entire day he was begging for an ID parade and they didn't give him any at all."
Jules Vasquez
"You said that Ronlee works at the market."
Kamisha Shiel, Girlfriend
"Yes he works there so everybody there knows him. If he is asking for an ID parade - why they didn't give him, everybody know him and they can identify if was the one that did it."
Keisha Petillo, Sister
"He wasn't any stranger to the city; he is someone that is well known. So someone that is known would beg for an ID parade? Come on Jules. Sense."
Kamisha Shiel, Girlfriend
"No one that guilty would beg for an ID parade. If you know you did something you wouldn't want to go on an ID parade because you will be afraid for them to pick out you."
Keisha Petillo, Sister
"My brother and that young man is no associate, so I want to know how you will charge two complete stranger for one crime. I just want to know how the law works. I just want to know how they work something so impossible like that, I just want to know because he is my brother."
Jules Vasquez
"But you don't know all your brother's friends. He could have friends and acquaintances that are unknown to you."
Keisha Petillo, Sister
"If my brother says he don't know somebody - trust me I am his sister, it's because he don't know them."
Jules Vasquez
"You feel that they charge him only because of his reputation? There must be some other reason to charge him."
Keisha Petillo, Sister
"Well you and I know Jules Ronlee Petillo, but whatever he had done in the past I can say personally on Friday I was with my brother drinking. He went in the morning to pick up his Social Security card so that he can register his kids and so that whenever he gets paid Social will take out their amount, so he needed the Social Security card. That was war he went for and then he came back home and him and I start drinking. I don't know about anything else because he never came out back."
Jules Vasquez
"So wait, this murder happen around 8:30, you are saying you were with him at that time?"
Keisha Petillo, Sister
"He was in his bed because he got drunk before me."
The pair of accused are expected to be arraigned tomorrow. And while they are charged the security of market vendors, particularly the ones on the street continues to be a major concern.
Councilor with responsibility for markets Phillip Willoughby addressed it today:…
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor in-charge of Market
"What we have looked at and being down there this morning, it is now the council intention that, all those vendors will be asked in a meeting on Wednesday, on which we are asking them to comply with us that all the spaces that are within the Michael Finnegan market additional stalls will be built in the space and they will be asked to utilize the space within the Michael Finnegan market, And the wholesalers will be asked to utilize the area from east collet canal to Dolphin street."
Jules Vasquez
"Was there a lapse in security on Friday? Would you accept that there was a lapse with security which left the group of vendors he was in expose and that particular vendor exposed?"
Phillip Willoughby, Councilor in-charge of Market
"Unfortunately, like any other commercial business, perpetrator of crime doesn't say that they are coming, the time they are coming and the fashion they will come, and who will be their next target. Now unfortunately it was a vendor from the market. I think what needs to be looked at on them as individuals is to see how - look at what I am doing as an individual internally and try to be more careful and more safe. Safety is a first priority for us here at the council, for them and for the people who are purchasing from them. And we are saying it will be much safer that they utilized the Michael Finnegan market, that's it."
The council is looking at the possibility of building a market on the north side of the city to alleviate some of the crowding at the Michael Finnegan Market..
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