TWO BRONX MEN INDICTED IN FATAL SHOOTING OF AUTISTIC MAN DURING ROBBERY IN STARLIGHT PARK

 

Defendants Also Charged with Gunpoint Robbery of Another Man Minutes Earlier

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that two Bronx men were indicted on second-degree Murder and other related charges in the fatal shooting of a man inside Starlight Park, as well as a gunpoint robbery minutes earlier a half mile away. 

District Attorney Clark said, “In the space of just 15 minutes these defendants allegedly robbed one man at gunpoint and then shot another man to death while robbing him. The 26-yearold murder victim was walking through Starlight Park on his way home from work. We will do everything in our power to bring justice to his family.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Axel Martinez, 20, of Van Nest Avenue, and Luis Castillo, 19, of East Gun Hill Road, have been indicted on two counts of second-degree Murder, one count of first-degree Manslaughter, two counts of first-degree Robbery, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon and two counts of second-degree Robbery. Martinez was arraigned today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and remand was continued. Castillo was arraigned on October 28, 2025, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Busching and remanded. They are due back in court on January 29, 2026.

According to the investigation, just after midnight on September 4, 2025, the defendants were riding on bikes in the vicinity of Beach Avenue and the Cross-Bronx Expressway when they approached a man, pointed a gun at him and demanded his possessions. They took the victim’s cell phone and wallet. 

Approximately 15 minutes later, the defendants entered Starlight Park where they approached Ronell Marte and allegedly stole his cell phone. The defendants allegedly fired one shot at the victim, killing him.

A bicyclist came across Marte and called 911. The victim was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Stephen Doyle of the Bronx Homicide Squad and Felix Delcarpio of the 43rd Precinct Detective Squad for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.