Spring Valley man shot 'almost execution-style' by Haverstraw duo: Police
Steve LiebermanSPRING VALLEY — Two Haverstraw men have been accused of fatally shooting a 20-year-old village man "almost execution-style" as he ran away in front of witnesses, village police said today.
Emerson Jean-Baptiste saw the two men coming while sitting on the floor of an apartment building hallway on Sunday night, Police Chief Paul Modica said.
Jean-Baptiste got up and ran, only to be shot in the back, Modica said.
The shooting was captured on videotape at the 150 Liberty Parkway housing complex, he said.
"Our victim is sitting in the hallway with a bunch of people minding his own business," Modica said. "As soon as our defendants show up — who are on the video — within four seconds the victim tried to run. He was shot."
Arrested Monday on a second-degree murder charge were Jayden Rodriguez, 17, who is known to live in both Haverstraw and North Bergen, New Jersey, and Paul Miller, 20, of Haverstraw.
The North Bergen police arrested both men based on information provided by Spring Valley police.
Rodriguez and Miller were being held in Hudson County, New Jersey, awaiting extradition to New York for arraignment on the murder count, Modica said.
Modica said the video indicated Rodriguez shot Jean-Baptiste.
Spring Valley police continue to investigate the motive behind the shooting. Modica said the rounds from the weapon have been recovered. The video is evidence in the case.
"Almost like an execution-style shooting," Modica said. "He wasn't shot with his hands on his head. He's sitting and he must have known they were after him as he got up. As soon as they showed up, he ran."
Officers found Jean-Baptiste unresponsive on the ground. He was pronounced dead at Nyack Hospital.
The investigation by the officers and detectives led to identifying Rodriguez and Miller. The officers were assisted by the Ramapo, Haverstraw and North Bergen police departments.
Modica said Rodriguez is known in the village and Haverstraw while Jean-Baptiste apparently moved between the two communities as well.
The murder charge carries a potential prison sentence of 15-to-25 years to life upon conviction.
Anyone with information can call the Spring Valley police at 845-356-7400. Tips can be anonymous.
The shooting marked the fifth homicide in Rockland this year and the first in Spring Valley since 2017 when a 54-year-old woman was killed by a hit-and-run driver. No arrest has been made in that case.
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