NYC man arrested for killing of elderly aunt after repeatedly slamming her into wall

Carmen Nunez was taken to Lincoln Hospital after police responded to the scene at approximately 12:43 am on Saturday. The New York Police Department said she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Nunez and her nephew had reportedly been arguing at her home in the Hunts Point neighborhood when the dispute turned violent, the New York Post reported.

The man, whom Nunez identified as “Joshua,” was taken into custody at the scene. His identity had not formally been released as of Saturday, with charges still pending and the investigation ongoing.

The incident comes as New York City reports a decline in several major crime categories, although felony assaults have continued to increase. According to the NYPD, there have been 536 shooting incidents and 230 murders this year. Felony assaults have increased by 0.9 percent.

Domestic violence remains a major part of crime in the city, making up 40 percent of the felony assaults citywide. Another 10.8 percent of felony assaults were against police officers and public service workers.

Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has continued to face scrutiny for his weak rhetoric on crime in the city. While running for office, Mamdani faced concern among many critics, particularly past and present police officers, for his previous endorsements of defunding the police. Mamdani had called the NYPD “racist,” “anti-queer,” and “ a major threat to public safety.