Family members of Jamaica Bay capsized boat victims speak out

CROWN HEIGHTS (WABC) -- Holding their 1-year-old baby girl Isabella, Jessica Mejia say her husband Richard called her several times to reassure her everything was okay before the boat he was fishing from capsized in Jamaica Bay on Friday night.

"He told me they were ready to come back, and that everything was fine," says Jessica.

Richard Mejia drowned along with one of his best friends, Joel Ortiz. They had been fishing for about 4 hours with three other men on the 24-foot boat when the boat's owner says another boat's wake, not the weather caused his to flip over.

"When they say us, why didn't they go slowly? That's the problem," says boat owner Ivan Zabala.

He then spotted his friends clinging for life onto a cooler.

"I wanted to throw them my life jacket, and I didn't see them after that. I was screaming 'get to the boat!'" he adds.

Both Ortiz and Mejia worked as building supers. Residents brought food to try and comfort their heartbroken family.

"It's shock. I just lost my dad - my best friend," said the victim's son, Melvin Mejia.

Melvin got the news from his younger brother - their father, also a dedicated youth soccer coach, drowned. He flew home from college in Arkansas, assuring their family's faith will see them through this sudden and tragic loss.

"I believe this was an accident. The lord didn't want this to happen. We've been asking for prayer for peace and that's how's it been," says Melvin.