Neighbors gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor a 23-year-old woman one week after investigators said her ex-boyfriend Angel Carrasco pushed her and their 8-month-old infant off a 15th-floor balcony at a Bronx building.
Nathaly Ramirez, known to loved ones as Michelle, was cradling the child as she fell, according to officials.
Baby Nova is still fighting for her life in the hospital, officials said.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said Ramirez’s mother and grandmother are at the hospital at the baby’s bedside.
“We take this personal,” Gibson said. “When you attack or harm one of us, you harm all of us.”
Community members and advocates said they hope the tragedy brings more awareness to domestic violence, including the importance of knowing the signs, seeking help and reporting suspected abuse.
Stephanie McGraw, founder and CEO of WARM a, domestic violence organization, said neighbors should act when they hear signs of possible violence.
“One of the things that we really want to stress to our people in our community, because the neighbors heard it but they didn’t recognize it, they didn’t say anything,” McGraw said. “They just said, ‘Oh, it’s just another fight.’ If you hear something, if you hear somebody yelling and screaming and glass breaking, you have to get involved.”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Advocates have been canvassing the community to let neighbors know resources are available to help victims.
Several elected officials also attended the vigil and sent a message to abusers.
“Men, we gotta step it up,” Council Member Kevin Riley said. “Ain’t no friend of mine could be harming anybody, any child, any woman, and I could be calling them a friend. If you know somebody out there that is harming women, they are a sucker and they should not be a part of your life, and you should be calling it out completely.”
Carrasco faces several charges, including murder and attempted murder.
Police sources told NY1 he was transported to the hospital and has still not been arraigned.