Video shows how road aggression leads to fatal knife attack on innocent bystander in the Bronx

NEW YORK — Relatives of an innocent young father stabbed to death in the Bronx are demanding justice after they say he was killed for merely witnessing a Incident of aggression in road traffic.

The victim’s sister told CBS New York that the suspect should turn himself in.

Friends began laying candles Wednesday for Ronald Gomez-Mesa, 29, who was well-liked and well-known in the Morris Heights neighborhood. They said he was simply hanging out Tuesday afternoon when he became involved in an incident of driving aggression in which he was not even involved.

“Now we will never see him again,” said Gomez-Mesa’s sister, overwhelmed with grief. “We will not see him smile. We will not see him laugh. The daughter will not be able to enjoy her father. We will never be able to see him again and that is so unfair.”

Video shows chaotic scenes

According to police, it all started around 4:30 p.m. Surveillance video shows a woman involved in a car crash holding a baseball bat. Witnesses say she called her boyfriend, who showed up angry. Then a man on a scooter across the street can be seen throwing a bottle at his friend before driving away.

According to police, the boyfriend became angry and approached another man who was riding a scooter, hitting and attacking him. In the footage, another man, who family members said was Gomez-Mesa, can be seen standing up to defend the man. The boyfriend can then be seen running toward Gomez-Mesa.

“He walked up to him and started hitting him for no reason. He wasn’t even involved,” Gomez-Mesa’s sister said.

“The lady involved in the accident was talking to a person on the phone. This person just came here and stabbed and beat people without asking who was who. Senseless,” added a witness.

According to police, the scuffle escalated and ended in front of Rainbow Day Care, where investigators say Gomez-Mesa was stabbed in the chest. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police are still looking for the man responsible. He was last seen running toward West Burnside Avenue, dressed all in black and wearing red Crocs.

“He was a really good guy”

The witness added that Gomez-Mesa was “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” adding: “How can I put it? You know when someone dies? They say he was a good person. He was a really good guy.”

His family said they moved to New York City from the Dominican Republic in 2010 for better opportunities, but now their lives are shattered and a three-year-old girl is without a father.

“We really need justice for this. He didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve to be stabbed. He didn’t deserve to die. He was killed for no reason,” said Gomez-Mesa’s sister.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or DM on Twitter, @NYPDTipsAll calls are treated confidentially.