City Parks Department employee Elijah Mitchell, 23, is now facing hate crime charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Arturo Jose Rodriguez Marcano, a Venezuelan immigrant, who was camping in a Brooklyn park. Mitchell was initially charged with second-degree murder, but on Wednesday, he was indicted on additional hate crime charges related to the July 21 incident, according to the New York Post.
Prosecutors allege that the confrontation began on July 18 when Mitchell, who was cleaning the Steuben Playground near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Clinton Hill, became agitated by the presence of immigrants setting up tents in the park.
He reportedly tore down the tents and angrily confronted the group, including Rodriguez Marcano, 30. An argument ensued, during which Mitchell retrieved a gun from his car, though the altercation was initially broken up by his coworkers.
However, three days later, on July 21, Mitchell allegedly returned to the park around 10:45 p.m. and fired multiple shots at Rodriguez Marcano, hitting him in the chest. Rodriguez Marcano was transported to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Mitchell has been indicted on several charges, including second-degree murder as a hate crime, criminal possession of a weapon, and menacing as a hate crime. He pleaded not guilty and is currently being held with bail set at $350,000 cash or a $2.5 million bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 23.
Following the incident, the Parks Department suspended Mitchell from his duties on July 30.
On the night of the shooting, another incident occurred at a nearby shelter, initially leading police to believe the two events were connected. However, they later determined that the incidents were unrelated.
New York City, which has declared itself a sanctuary city, has been grappling with an influx of immigrants. The city has offered various forms of assistance, including free airline tickets for immigrants to travel elsewhere in the U.S., converting a high school to accommodate immigrants, and providing prepaid debit cards. Additionally, a Marriott hotel is facing a lawsuit for allegedly violating its franchise agreement by serving only immigrants.
