Person of interest in custody after body of murdered woman found in sleeping bag in Manhattan
KIPS BAY, Manhattan (WABC) -- A person of interest is in custody after the body of a murdered woman was found inside a sleeping bag in Manhattan last week.
A seething crowd yelled "murderer" Monday night, as police brought the person of interest from his home on EMS gurney.
Video shows police trying to keep the crowd back, but the brutal killing of the 31-year-old woman, who was found dead on Friday just before 5 p.m. in front of 207 East 27th St., had enraged them. They surged forward and hit the man in police custody. The medics got the man to the ambulance but again, the crowd surged and hit him repeatedly. Eventually, he was loaded in.
Police said Monday that Yazmeen Williams was shot in the head before she was wrapped in a plastic bag and put in the sleeping bag.
Surveillance video recovered by detectives shows a man in an electric wheelchair dragging her body to where it was eventually found. Eyewitnesses say the body was left with the trash on the street.
Her death has been ruled a homicide and now her loved ones are seeking justice.
Williams' family described her as someone who wanted to be an advocate for women and part of the justice system to fight for victims.
"She was beautiful, she was sweet, she was college-educated, she was just a good person," said the victim's aunt Nisha Ramirez.
Her family and friends knew her as Yazzy. Her mom, Nicole Williams, said she started a new job last week for the city where she would be helping the homeless and they planned to celebrate her mom's birthday in a couple weeks.
"I was so excited for her and so excited to spend my birthday with her, but now I'm not, my baby is gone," Williams said.
Now the victim's loved ones have set up a memorial in front of the building where she was found and they are demanding justice.
"She wanted to go back to school get her masters degree, she wanted to go to law school, that was her ultimate goal to go to law school," Williams said.
Her loved ones don't know who would have wanted to harm her, but say whoever it was is dangerous.
"It's not safe because there's still somebody out there," Ramirez said.
Sources believe the man in the wheelchair is someone that the victim knew -- but the motive is unclear.
Police took a person of interest into custody on Monday, but they have not been charged so far.
The investigation is ongoing.
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