Gun Recovered, April 30 Shooting Solved: Police

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A warrant served on an unrelated criminal contempt matter proved to be the break in a case involving gunshots fired at a moving vehicle in April.

Just after 11 p.m. on June 10, New Rochelle Police officers took note of a car parked on Crescent Avenue. Police already knew who one of the occupants was and they also knew that he had an outstanding warrant for criminal contempt from a May 15 incident.

The officers serving the arrest warrant could not have known they would find an illegal handgun believed to have been used in a shooting earlier this year. Police say they recovered a .9mm handgun with a 30-round extended magazine, along with a bag of 30 rounds of .9mm ammunition, from the car.

Police believe that the gun recovered from a car on June 10, is the same handgun fired by Abel Coyt during the April 30 shooting. (New Rochelle Police)

Four suspects were arrested. Three of them were later charged with attempted murder in connection with an until now unsolved April 30, incident in which gunshots struck a van driving near Union Avenue and Fourth Street.

Abel Coyt, who investigators believe was the trigger man in the April 30 shooting was arrested on illegal weapons possession charges. The 35-year-old was later charged with attempted murder and reckless endangerment connected to the April incident.

Daniel Barcenas, who was the subject of the original arrest warrant for disobeying a court order and harassment, was charged with illegal weapons possession. The 20-year-old was later charged with attempted murder and reckless endangerment.

Wilmer Maldonado was charged with illegal weapons possession. The 20-year-old was also later charged with attempted murder and reckless endangerment.

A fourth person in the car, Janetti Oceguera-Coyt, was arrested on illegal weapons possession charges. The 20-year-old was not charged in connection with the April 30 shooting.

A warrant was filed on another suspect who was not arrested on June 10. Police say Jair Barcenas has been charged with attempted murder and reckless endangerment in connection with the April 30 shooting. Investigators say they expect the 18-year-old will be booked on Monday.

Police believe that the gun recovered from the car is the same handgun fired by Coyt during the April 30 shooting.