A man shot in his Bronx apartment during an attempted robbery of a chain necklace has died after clinging to life for nearly two weeks, officials said Monday.
Jeifry Veras Alcantara, 22, was in his apartment on Balcom Ave. near Schley Ave. in Throggs Neck when he got involved in an argument with Carlos Estrella Tejada, 21, and Diana Richez, 27, over the chain just before 3:35 a.m. Feb. 22, prosecutors said.
“I want the chain!” Richez demanded of Alcantara, according to prosecutors. “We’re going to kill each other here!”
The trio argued until Richez directed Estrella Tejada to “Give me the gun,” a witness told police.
Estrella Tejada pulled out the gun and fired it at Alcantara, striking him in the abdomen, according to prosecutors. Alcantara was taken to Saint Barnabas Hospital by private means, where he was initially listed in stable condition.
On Feb. 27, Richez and Estrella Tejada were busted and hit with numerous charges, including attempted murder, attempted robbery, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
At their arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court on Feb. 28, a judge set Estrella Tejada’s bail at $25,000 cash or $100,000 bond, and Richez’s at $10,000 cash or $50,000 bond — both of which they posted, records show.
Meanwhile, Alcantara’s condition worsened; he was intubated, placed in a coma and lost a kidney before dying on March 7.
Neither Richez nor Estrella Tejeda is in Department of Correction custody, records show, but officials said Monday their charges will likely be upgraded to murder.