Heartbreaking video captures desperate pleas from bystanders as NYC shooting victim lay dying in street: ‘Keep breathing'
The footage obtained by The Post shows the final moments of the 38-year-old victim Victor Bautista's life after he was shot in the chest following a dispute with another man near Trinity Avenue and East 149th Street in Melrose around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.
'Breathe! Breathe,' a good Samaritan frantically begs in the clip as Bautista lies on the street groaning. He lifts Bautista by the shoulder to examine the gunshot wound.
7 A street camera captured the fatal shooting of Victor Bautista on Trinity Avenue and East 149th Street in Melrose on June 17, 2025.
United Bodegas of America
'It didn't go through! It didn't go through,' he shouts. 'I got you, I got you,' he says. 'Breathe!'
A chorus of bystanders shouts out, 'Call 911!'
The Samaritan resumes his efforts to keep Bautista from slipping away.
'Open your eyes, bro! Oh my God! Get up,' he tells Bautista.
But things quickly took a turn for the worse.
'It's getting low, it's getting low,' he says, panic growing in his voice. 'His pulse is getting low, man. He's going, he's going, man. This n—a's going to die in my hands, man!'
7 The gunman in a high-vis vest runs across the street as Bautista holds his chest where he was struck by the bullet.
United Bodegas of America
7 Bautista hides behind a van moments after he was shot.
United Bodegas of America
He starts trying to pump Bautista's chest in a desperate bid to revive him, the footage shows.
A woman approaches the dying man whom she calls DaDa and clutches his hand.
'DaDa, squeeze my hand,' she says, clutching his limp hand.
'Yo, yo, stay with us, bro,' the Samaritan shouts as he continues to pump his chest.
7 The gunman attacks Bautista on the sidewalk.
United Bodegas of America
Moments later, police arrive and take over life-saving measures.
Bautista was later pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital, police said.
A second video, security footage from a bodega, shows the moment the victim was struck by the fatal bullet.
Bautista can be seen getting into an animated argument with a man leaning against a wall outside of a business. He punches the man and the two wrestle, according to the video.
7 Police investigate the homicide in the Bronx on June 17, 2025.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Then the other man suddenly fires a gun at Bautista, striking him once in the chest, according to the clip.
The shooter runs across Trinity Avenue. Bautista, in shock, reaches for his chest. He staggers along the sidewalk, briefly goes off camera, and then collapses, his head bouncing off a van as he falls to the street.
Bautista's killer remains at large.
Fernando Mateo, a spokesman for the United Bodegas of America, said Bautista died just steps from D'mi Muñeca Grocery, a bodega on Trinity Avenue. His violent death, he said, is another reason to install panic buttons in bodegas across the city.
'The entire incident was captured by the store's surveillance cameras. You can see the argument. You can see the shooting. It's all there,' Mateo said in a statement.
7 Police stand in the street near the scene of the fatal shooting.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
7 An evidence marker is placed near the vehicle where Bautista was shot.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The owners of the bodega have been in the community for a decade.
'Today, they are shaken. They are scared. They are not sure what tomorrow looks like,' he said.
Mateo said that his organization will install a panic button at the store to provide the owners with 'peace of mind,' but he added that the NYPD needs to step up and provide more resources, like real-time access to bodega cameras.
'The NYPD should not be watching these videos after someone has already died,' he said. 'They should be seeing them live so they can respond before the next shot is fired.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
13 hours ago
- New York Post
ICE nabs July 4 groper who was allowed to walk free thanks to sanctuary laws
Immigration agents nabbed an illegal immigrant who sexually assaulted an American woman on Independence Day years earlier — and was let go by local cops thanks to sanctuary laws in Portland, Oregon, The Post has learned. Mexican illegal immigrant Kevin Contreras-Mendoza, 27, followed a woman on the street in Portland, Oregon, on July, 4, 2018, before grabbing her from behind and violently groping her as she cried out for help, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 'This Independence Day, Americans are safer with this SICKO off our streets,' said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Contreras-Mendoza was convicted of the sickening attack in 2019. 'Insanely, Oregon authorities failed to honor his detainer to turn him over to ICE. Instead, they released this sex offender into American communities. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is empowered to arrest and remove sexual predators like Contreras-Mendoza who threaten the freedoms and safety of Americans,' McLaughlin added. The woman's screams were heard by two bystanders, who chased Contreras-Mendoza as he fled the scene. He was ultimately captured on Sept. 13, 2018 and handed a conviction in 2019. ICE lodged a detainer asking local cops to hand over Contreras-Mendoza. But they ignored the request and ultimately let him back onto the streets, according to DHS. Contreras-Mendoza illegally snuck across the US-Mexico border at an unknown time. Oregon was the first state to become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, passing restrictions in 1987. 'This Independence Day, Americans are safer with this SICKO off our streets,' said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. AP While the Beaver State has tried to stay away from helping ICE, the feds intend to keep making arrests of illegal immigrants in sanctuary states, Homeland Security said. 'These … are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens,' Trump said last month, referring to an effort to 'flood' sanctuary cities with ICE agents. And with the passage of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act, the mass deportation effort will only be 'turbocharged' with new funding to hold up to 100,000 illegal immigrants at a time, according to DHS.
New York Post
14 hours ago
- New York Post
Long Island on high alert for sharks as thousands head to beach for Fourth of July
This is a 'Jaws'-dropping effort. Officials are on high alert for sharks as thousands are expected to head to Long Island beaches for Independence Day — after one predator took a bite out of a swimmer. New York State and local authorities are beefing up shark patrols for the holiday weekend — and beachgoers will see more drones and helicopters in the air as well as shark-spotting crews stationed along the shoreline. 3 Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman takes a swim as Nassau Marine Police patrol Nickerson Beach on June 30, 2025. Brandon Cruz/NY Post 'Our Long Island State Park beaches are cherished by New Yorkers and visitors alike — perfect places to get offline, get outside and enjoy the outdoors,' Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. 'We are continuing to strengthen our shark surveillance capabilities and safety tactics at these beaches to help protect these treasured summertime traditions,' she said. 'I encourage all beachgoers to stay safe, stay alert and always follow the direction of lifeguards and park staff.' The state has added six new drones to its shark-hunting arsenal, bringing the total to 28 — along with eight newly trained drone pilots and a high-tech drone for park police equipped with night vision, thermal imaging, and laser range-finding. 3 Nassau Marine Police patrol Nickerson Beach on June 30, 2025. Brandon Cruz/NY Post Lifeguards, marine officers, and surveillance teams from Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as state park officers will scan the waters by land, air and sea with protocols in place to pull swimmers from the ocean anytime a shark is spotted and keep them out for at least an hour after the last sighting. On the county level, Suffolk officials told The Post that the authorities will be conducting routine monitoring. But Nassau Executive Bruce Blakeman announced Monday that the county's marine police would be all hands on deck with added patrols, more drones used than ever before, longer air times for helicopters, and additional boats on the water. 3 Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaks at a press condernce after swimming as Nassau Marine Police patrol Nickerson Beach on June 30, 2025. Brandon Cruz/NY Post State park police will now be assisting both counties with added patrols of their own using the new high-tech drone to spot sharks and send out alerts that would be sent to a coastal awareness network of more than 200 agencies, beach operators, and municipalities stretching from Brooklyn and Queens to the East End. 'Our staff is well prepared to safeguard beachgoers this summer season, and we're excited to adopt the latest technology to be even more effective,' said New York State Parks Commissioner Randy Simons. Officials are urging beachgoers to stay close to shore, swim in groups, and avoid murky waters or areas with diving birds and schools of fish — where sharks may be lurking out of sight. Swimmers should always follow instructions from lifeguards and park staff, they said.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Eric Adams' indicted former top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin returns to his inner circle — as mayor fails to shed problematic cronies amid tough re-election fight
With friends like these … Mayor Eric Adams is refusing to shake scandal-scarred cronies who plagued his first administration — while telling skittish backers that they have been taken off his re-election campaign, The Post has learned. Indicted former top Adams adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin has been quietly making calls for the campaign, insiders said, with one source describing her as his 'shadow political director.' Two other confidantes whose homes were raided by the feds in the run-up to Adams' historic corruption case — former City Hall aide Winnie Greco and fundraiser Brianna Suggs — are also helping his campaign, sources said. 'Just unbelievable,' one source said, when told about the crew's return to Adams' good graces. The trio's resurrection comes to the chagrin of Adams' powerful backers, who want him to shed problematic pals to have any shot at beating Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in November's election, insiders said. 4 Mayor Eric Adams' indicted longtime consigliere Ingrid Lewis-Martin is helping with his re-election campaign. Paul Martinka At least one backer called Adams' campaign last week to raise alarm about Lewis-Martin and Greco, but were told the pair were no longer with the re-election effort, sources said. Lewis-Martin and Greco are still working with the campaign in a volunteer capacity, while Suggs has quietly remained on the payroll since the federal probe emerged into public view, said spokesman Todd Shapiro. 'These people are not working in government, they're simply volunteering on a campaign with a thousand others,' Shapiro said. 'We are not stopping people from volunteering.' The longtime Democrat Adams is running as an Independent in a tough re-election battle against Mamdani, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, independent candidate Jim Walden and, potentially, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Business leaders and moderates frightened over the prospect of a Mamdani mayoralty have shown signs that they'll flock to Adams as their last, best shot after Cuomo was trounced by the socialist upstart in the Democratic mayoral primary. Insiders have been telling Adams he needs to cut loose troublesome cronies to have a shot at re-election — as well as distance himself from President Trump and MAGA allies, sources said. Adams acknowledged in a spree of mea culpa-style interviews that he hired staffers during his first term whom he 'should not have brought on board.' But behind the scenes, Hizzoner has also stubbornly refused to cut the cords, either to his friends or Trump — a refusal that threatens to kill his long-shot re-election bid as fed-up voters associate him with corruption and the GOP's attacks on the Big Apple. One source pointed out this was straight out of Adams' playbook — returning to chums he came up with, regardless of their baggage. 'The more someone tells him he can't do something, he'll want to do the opposite,' the source said. Another source close to the mayor defiantly dismissed the backers' concerns. 'These are the same people that told the mayor not to run, and now they are begging him to run,' the source charged. 'So, why should he listen to these people?' Blasts from the past Lewis-Martin stepped down from her powerful City Hall post in December, days before prosecutors accused her of trading favors to two New York City hoteliers in exchange for $100,000 in bribes. She denies the accusations. 4 Lewis-Martin faces bribery and conspiracy charges. Steven Hirsch Her resignation came as Adams — then facing his now-dismissed federal corruption case — was under pressure from Gov. Kathy Hochul to finally shed a cadre of close friends who faced criminal probes after being elevated to top spots in his administration. Lewis-Martin, whom Adams once called his 'sister ordained by God,' had a strained relationship in the days leading to her resignation and indictment, sources had said. Sources said Lewis-Martin, who declined to comment, has since been making calls for Adams' re-election campaign. 'She's like his shadow political director,' a source said. 4 Lewis-Martin has been close to Adams for decades. Paul Martinka Shapiro downplayed Lewis-Martin's role in the campaign, noting she has known Adams for 40 years. 'She is not holding an official title,' he said. 'We do not restrict people from giving their support.' Suggs, the top campaign fundraiser whose shocking federal raid last year first revealed the corruption probe into Adams, attended the mayor's official re-election campaign launch last week. Not only that, but Suggs stood alongside Greco — a longtime Adams aide who resigned from City Hall after her properties in the Bronx were raided by FBI agents. Insiders were stunned to see her at the event and refused to embrace her, sources said. Neither Greco nor Suggs has been charged in connection with the raids. 4 Adams' backers concerned about Zohran Mamdani becoming mayor want Hizzoner to shed problematic friends. Paul Martinka for NY Post Both Adams and Cuomo have been jockeying for support from political and business poohbahs anxious over Mamdani. Those bigs fear that Adams and Cuomo could end up splitting anti-Mamdani votes in November and ease the socialist's path into Gracie Mansion. Cuomo, for his part, has flip-flopped over whether he'll actively run as an Independent in November's general election — and sources said he's trying to position himself as the best candidate to defeat Mamdani, despite his lopsided primary loss. But many of Cuomo's former supporters view his Independent run as dead-on-arrival. Billionaire hedge fund titan Bill Ackman on Wednesday backed Adams' bid and urged the 'subdued' Cuomo to drop out. 'Eric's first term has not been without flaws,' Ackman wrote in a lengthy X post. 'In particular, he relied too much on friends of Adams to staff his administration; however, when one looks at his record in totality, he has had a strong first term.'
