What there is to know
- Unsolved murders in a Long Island community are drawing attention this week — and an additional cash reward — as part of a national week highlighting the victims of violence.
- The Suffolk County Police Department chief announced the reward for five separate cases in hopes of sparking renewed attention during National Crime Victims Rights Week and generating new leads that may lead to arrests.
- Among those five cases is Roquez “Willy” Villalba-Jimenez, a 32-year-old father of two daughters shot dead in the driveway of his Huntington Station home last August. Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said the family spent the evening at a dinner party celebrating their daughter Abigail’s eighth birthday before heading home.
NEW YORK — Unsolved murders in a Long Island community are drawing attention this week — and an additional cash reward — as part of a national week highlighting the victims of violence.
The Suffolk County Police Department chief announced the reward for five separate cases in hopes of sparking renewed attention during National Crime Victims Rights Week and generating new leads that may lead to arrests.
Among those five cases is Roquez “Willy” Villalba-Jimenez, a 32-year-old father of two daughters shot dead in the driveway of his Huntington Station home last August. Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said the family spent the evening at a dinner party celebrating their daughter Abigail’s eighth birthday before heading home.
“Willy y su esposa estaban viendo televisión, y luego sonó el timbre. Willy fue a abrir la puerta y Teresa escuchó dos disparos. Monday.
Abigail, hearing the commotion, also came downstairs to find her father murdered.
In the eight months since, no arrests have been made and the police still have no motive behind the cold-blooded murder.
“We’re asking, we’re begging any member of the community: if you know something, say something,” Sandra Huffman said as she wiped away tears.
“No parent should have to bury their child. My parents had to go through the worst pain a parent could feel. My nieces lost their father, who was literally their world. He was my older brother, there were four of us. Our family no longer, it’s the same,” he said.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in five unsolved cases: three homicides and two hit and run deaths. In at least two of those cases, the victims were teenagers, police said.
Harrison said the police department will continue to highlight cold cases throughout the week.