A family friend allegedly planned the robbery that killed a 9-year-old American boy in the Dominican Republic earlier this week.
Jose Luis Velez arrived at Santiago’s Cibao International Airport for a spring break trip with his family on Wednesday, shortly before a gang of robbers targeted their car.
Tomás Peña Morel, 32, was arrested along with five others in connection with the killing of Jocer Luis Vélez, who was shot in the head after leaving the airport with his father, Sergio Luis Vélez.
Muriel is a friend of the Phillies senior, according to officials. Velez had warned travelers not to share information on social media when traveling to the Dominican Republic, after he posted photos of the family at JFK airport as they waited to board the plane on Wednesday.
“It was an attempt to steal my belongings without knowing who it would be because it was the first time I came to Santiago,” said Sergio, acknowledging that he and his son would make the perfect victims.
Tomás Peña Morel (pictured), 32, has been arrested along with five others in connection with the killing of Jocer Luis Vélez, who was shot in the head after leaving the airport with Father Sergio Luis Vélez
A family friend allegedly planned the robbery that resulted in the death of 9-year-old American boy Joycere Louis Fili (pictured) in the Dominican Republic earlier this week.
Luis Angel Vargas Prieto, 18, Derlin Javier Mercado Martinez, Cesar Jr. Oloa Cuevas, Jose Manuel Almonte Santana, 20, and Elian Martinez Sanchez, 22, were also arrested.
The police also detained five women, but they were not charged and the police did not confirm their connection to the murder.
Geuser’s uncle told the media that Phyllis and Muriel’s father had known each other for over 10 years and were “basically brothers.”
“Since I learned of the death of the child, Joser Luis Vélez, I have been following the case,” Dominican Republic President Luis Abenader said in a statement.
The Director of National Police has informed me that 5 criminals who committed this horrible crime have been arrested. Now justice must be guaranteed in the courts.
The family is now working to get Geuser’s body back to New York so a funeral can be held.
It was reported that the driver of the car refused to stop after the thieves hit it, then opened fire before driving away quickly.
Geoser was tragically shot in the head, and died in hospital while undergoing surgery, according to the report Diario Libre.
Muriel, seen here with Phyllis, has been a friend of the dad for over a decade
Geocer Luis Fili arrived at Santiago’s Cibao International Airport for a spring break trip with his family Wednesday, shortly before a gang of thieves targeted their car.
Geuser’s uncle told the media that Velez’s father Sergio (pictured) and Morel have known each other for over 10 years and were “basically brothers.”
The tragic shooting took place after the family was arrested by an unnamed friend of the boy’s father, Sergio Luis Feliz Mancebo.
After landing in the Dominican Republic for baby’s spring break, they’re expected to spend several days in the country before returning to New York next Monday.
In a video released after he lost his son, Sergio said the robbers intercepted the family as they passed through a toll booth.
The gang then opened fire when the driver of the car, one of the father’s friends, refused to stop and tried to flee.
One of the bullets hit the boy in the head, and he was taken to a local hospital for emergency surgery before being declared dead. His body will be transported to the United States.
The attackers fled the scene in a white Hyundai, which police used to track and arrest them after discovering they had rented it shortly before the botched robbery.
A press release added that the men “confessed their participation” in the shooting.
“These detainees were captured by video surveillance cameras at this station and from there they traced the victim’s father,” a police spokesman added after the arrests.
The boy’s father, Sergio Luis Feliz Mancebo, told police the robbers opened fire when the car’s driver refused to stop.
The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, said he was “pursuing the case” after the boy’s death shocked the nation
The boy’s father has warned travelers not to share information on social media when traveling to the Dominican Republic, after he posted photos of the family at JFK airport as they waited to board the plane on Wednesday.
The death of the 9-year-old sent shockwaves across the Dominican Republic, with the country’s president, Luis Abenader, applauding the news of the arrests.
“Since learning of the death of baby Joycere Luis Feliz, I have been following the case,” he said on Twitter.
The Director of National Police has informed me that 5 criminals who committed this horrible crime have been arrested. Now justice must be guaranteed in the courts.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
