Alleged gunman arrested in pregnant woman's death in Manhattan

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Thursday, September 16, 2021

Alleged gunman arrested in pregnant woman's death in NYC

Naveen Dhaliwal has more on the suspect arrested in the death of a pregnant woman in Harlem.

HARLEM, New York (WABC) -- Police have arrested the man accused of shooting and killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend in Harlem as she came home from her baby shower.

Authorities say 40-year old Justin Soriano was taken into custody in the Bronx Thursday morning.

"Our warrant guys are second to none in the city in tracking down people -- through numerous investigative leads, interviewing witnesses, help from the community, we tracked down to an acquaintance house in the Bronx and we apprehended him on Carlisle Place," said Chief of Detectives James Essig.

Police say Soriano got into a dispute with 31-year-old Shanice Young's current boyfriend at West 128th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard early Sunday.

Young's father said that Soriano was the father of the unborn child, however, police said they have not been able to determine who the father of the child is and that was likely the nexus of the dispute between the men.

The victim's father said they broke up about two months ago and there was domestic violence involved. They did not have any other children together.

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Authorities say Soriano shot Young in the head while another of her daughters watched.

Young and her unborn baby both died. She was eight and a half months pregnant.

Police publicly identified Soriano earlier this week, asking for the public's help in locating him.

Young was taking the gifts into her building lobby when police say the fight broke out between the two men.

Soriano has an extensive criminal history with 17 prior arrests.

He is charged with murder, criminal possession of weapon, acing in a manner injurious to a child and menacing.

A makeshift memorial now sits at the scene. Young had two other children, ages 6 and 15, and was caring for her two younger siblings, ages 20 and 11, as well.

"Shanice was a victim," her sister Metania said. "She had two (children), and the third one died with her."

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