Suspect Arrested and Charged with Murder in Autistic Man’s Stabbing Death over Backpack Mixup
Suspect Arrested and Charged with Murder in Autistic Man’s Stabbing Death over Backpack Mixup
Authorities have announced the arrest and murder charges against the suspect involved in the stabbing death of an autistic man in the Bronx. Gregory Hightower, 31, was apprehended on Wednesday afternoon, five days after the incident occurred. The victim, Tyrone Padilla, was chased into the lobby of his Fordham Heights building and stabbed in the neck and armpit.
Possible Backpack Mixup Led to Fatal Attack
Investigators believe that a possible mixup over a backpack may have triggered the deadly confrontation. Padilla, who suffered from autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder, may have unintentionally picked up Hightower’s backpack. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that Padilla had a habit of picking things up off the ground due to his autistic tendencies. This behavior was captured on video, showing him carrying a chair and picking up trash outside the building.
Timeline of the Incident
Padilla initially left his apartment on Creston Avenue near East Fordham Road at 1:10 a.m. and returned home unharmed after 10 minutes. However, he left again at 1:21 a.m. to walk his dog and never returned. Video footage obtained by the police showed Padilla being chased by another man at around 1:24 a.m. on Creston Avenue. Although the man was seen holding a backpack in previous footage, he was no longer carrying it during the chase. Padilla was later found bleeding to death in the stairwell of his Bronx residence at around 1:30 a.m. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Investigation and Arrest
Investigators recovered a dagger at the scene, but it is believed to be Padilla’s and not the murder weapon. No backpack was found at the scene either. The police used facial recognition technology to identify the suspect, although it remains unclear how they managed to track down Hightower. Hightower, a resident of Bath Beach, Brooklyn, has no prior arrests on record. His arraignment is pending.
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