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Nov. 6, 2013 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Jose Contreras (DOB 03/16/61) of 49 North Broadway, Yonkers, New York was arraigned today on a five count indictment charging him with:
- one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Violent Felony,
- two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, class “C” Felonies,
- two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, class “A” Misdemeanors,
relating to the shooting of his wife, Sharon Contreras.
On Saturday Oct. 12, 2013, at approximately 10:51, Yonkers police received a call of shots fired inside a building.
Responding police arrive at the location, 49 North Broadway, force their way inside the building and find the victim in the hallway on the 11th floor.
The victim suffered a single gunshot wound to the upper chest.
EMS transports her to St. Joseph’s Hospital where she is pronounced dead.
Video surveillance inside the building capture the defendant getting onto the elevator on the 11th floor and going out of the lobby covered in blood.
Yonkers Police institute an immediate canvass of the area looking for defendant.
They spot a suspicious male walking on Warburton Avenue toward Ashburton Avenue who is attempting to conceal himself close to the storefronts in the shadows.
He has blood all over his arms, hands, shoes, pants and was carrying his shirt.
Police question the man and determine that it is the suspect and he is placed under arrest.
A K-9 was dispatched to assist in the search of the area looking for the gun and the dog located the revolver in a vacant lot at the corner of North Broadway and Wells Place, near where the defendant was located.
“This was an extremely violent domestic violence murder, made all the more horrific because it was the product of years of arguments, fights and abuse. The pattern that has emerged in this case, of threats, harassment and alcohol abuse, is far too common and the type of behavior that law enforcement sees time and time again,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.
The defendant was remanded.
His next court date is Nov. 19, 2013.
He faces a maximum sentence of twenty five years to life in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Fredric Green of the Superior Court Trial Division is prosecuting the case.
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In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
