Suspect sought in 72-year-old woman's fatal fall in Harlem
HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) --- Police are searching for a suspect in connection to a 72-year-old woman's fatal fall in Harlem last month, authorities said Tuesday.
The woman died after she was bumped into by a man being chased by an armed suspect during a fight near 720 Lenox Ave. at around 5 p.m. on Aug. 3, according to the NYPD. The bystander, identified as Martha Rodriguez, fell and hit her head on the pavement.
Rodgriguez was rushed to the hospital with head injuries and died three days later, police said.
The man was running from another man who pulled a knife and began chasing him during an argument outside the apartment building, police said. Rodgriguez was accidentally pushed to the ground during the pursuit.
The city’s medical examiner’s office deemed the incident a homicide.
The NYPD on Tuesday released a photo of the suspect who was chasing the man who crashed into the woman, police said. The man who ran into her is not expected to be charged.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.