Man stopped for violating open container ban wanted for murder – NBC New York

Officers stopped a man in the Bronx for drinking from an open container, but later found out he was wanted in connection with the murder of a homeless man over the summer, police said.

The suspect, 37-year-old Jorrell Shoals, was arrested by police officers in the South Bronx around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday after he was seen drinking alcohol from an open container in public. When police officers searched for Shoals, they discovered he had been wanted for murder since the summer.

Police had been searching for Shoals in connection with the death of Ramon Cruz, originally from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, in the Bronx. Cruz, 54, was taken to the hospital with facial injuries on June 23. Almost a month later, on July 17, Cruz succumbed to his injuries.

Shoals was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Information about Shoals' attorney was not immediately clear.