Officers stopped a man for drinking from an open container in the Bronx only to later find out that he was wanted for the murder of a sleeping homeless man over the summer, police and the district attorney said.
The suspect, 37-year-old Jorrell Shoals, was picked up by officers in the South Bronx around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday after he was seen drinking alcohol from an open container in public, according to police. When officers looked up Shoals, they found he was wanted on a murder charge from the summer.
Police had been looking for Shoals, originally of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, in connection with the death of Ramon Cruz in the Bronx. The 54-year-old Cruz had been hit and slashed to his face on June 23, and was taken to the hospital, where he suffered seizures and went into a coma. Nearly a month later, on July 17, Cruz died as a result of his injuries.
According to Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Shoals went up to Cruz as he slept on the sidewalk and began beating him mercilessly, punching him repeatedly in the head which caused it to hit the ground.
Clark said a motive behind the alleged attack was not clear.
Shoals was arrested and charged Tuesday with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Attorney information for Shoals was not immediately clear.
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