Two NYU business graduates are shot dead by a woman outside a Puerto Rico nightclub
A pair of New York University graduate students were fatally shot this weekend while traveling with classmates to Puerto Rico after being caught in the middle of a gunshot outside a San Juan bar.
The shooting took place at 3:50 a.m. Saturday on Loíza Street, leaving innocent bystanders Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, dead at the hands of a now-incarcerated female suspect.
San Juan police were searching for the still-unidentified woman, who can be seen in footage filmed by a bystander moments before she fired the fatal shots — after what police said was a dispute with the club’s security guard.
Police asked the public for help in identifying the gunman at a press conference later that day, giving the names and nationalities of both deceased.
Both came from Peru, but were pursuing an MBA from the Stern School of Business at the Big Apple University. NYU released a heartfelt statement mourning the young men who, according to classmates, had begun the holiday after finishing the finals.
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Franco Medina, 29, and Sergio Palomino Ruiz, 28, were shot dead by a woman outside a San Juan club on Saturday. Police later said the MBA students were caught in the crossfire of an unrelated dispute between the woman and the bar. bouncer
San Juan police were searching for the unidentified woman, seen here in blue in video captured by a bystander just before she fired a hail of bullets.
“They were good-hearted people and unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said classmate Nick Mica ABC7 On Monday, as the San Juan Police Department reported, the suspect seen in footage was arrested and will appear in court on Tuesday
Fellow graduate Connie Luc added: ‘They were bystanders and unfortunately this tragic event happened to them.
“They didn’t want it, they didn’t see it – they just finished the final and went on vacation.”
NYU, meanwhile, responded to the deaths by canceling all social events for MBA candidates until further notice, while issuing their own statement.
“NYU mourns today with the family, loved ones and friends of these students, whose lives ended tragically, suddenly and far too soon,” the school said, writing that staff were “heartless and shocked” by the incident.
“The university has contacted the remaining group members to offer them support and assistance,” the statement continued, before adding that none of the others present were injured.
“NYU has also reached out to the families of the murdered students to provide whatever assistance we can and to express the sympathy of the university community,” the school said.
“In addition, our counseling service will provide resources to students in the MBA program, the Stern School community, and especially the close peers and friends of the slain students.”
Classmates from the university’s prestigious business school have since developed a GoFundMe page to raise money for the victims’ families back home in Peru.
The woman seen in the footage has yet to be named, despite being arrested on Tuesday
“They were good-hearted people and unfortunately they were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” classmate Nick Mica told ABC7 on Monday, as San Juan police reported the suspect was captured on video and will appear in court on Tuesday
Classmates added that the two had been celebrating the birthday of one of their fellow students when they were shot. The nightclub – seen here – is called Emoji and is located on Loíza Street
NYU, meanwhile, responded to the deaths by canceling all social events for MBA candidates until further notice, while issuing their own statement
Within two days, the page has already raised $44,100 – more than half of its $80,000 final goal.
The description of the page created by Stern Student Government reads, “The Stern community has been devastated by the loss [of] our dear classmates, Franco and Sergio.
“They were such rays of light in our community, bringing us all constant laughter, smiles and joy,” it added.
“We express our deepest condolences to their families and want to offer help where we can.”
Classmates added that the two had been celebrating the birthday of one of their fellow students when they were shot. The business was Emoji on Loíza Street.
Mica added how his friends’ deaths can affect him and others during what is the last part of classes for many.
“Losing someone is hard, but especially your classmates in a time frame where you have to be focused on school work, it’s hard to keep your mind in the right place.”
The name of the suspect is not yet known.