Two Neighbors Murdered in Bushwick Houses Over Weekend, Police Search for Links

WILLIAMSBURG – Police are looking for a link between two murders that occurred next door to each other in the Bushwick Houses over the weekend, as the two crime scenes appear to share some forensic similarities.

On the night of Friday, May 11, police responded to a call of an assault at 140 Monroe Street around 6:45 pm. Inside, officers found the body of 62-year old Ana Devalle. Devalle’s hands had been bound and she had been shot in the head, said police.

Responding EMS pronounced Devalle dead at the scene of the crime.

Less than 48 hours later, police received another call to 140 Monroe Street, on Sunday, May 13—this time for an unconscious male. In the apartment next door to Devalle’s, police found the body of Basil Gray, 54, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.

EMS pronounced Gray dead at the scene as well.

Now, police are searching for a connection between the two murders. “There is similar forensic evidence that I observed in today’s apartment that was similar to Friday’s,” said NYPD Deputy Chief Charles McEvoy at a Sunday night press conference.

Sources told the New York Post there was a “strong possibility” the two neighbors were killed on the same day:

“Based upon what I saw and what I know, it’s a strong possibility that the male that was discovered today did not die today,” McEvoy said. “There’s a strong possibility that he died on the same date and at the approximate time as his female neighbor.”

An investigation into the two murders is underway, though no arrests have been made at this time.