Two Homeless Shelter Men Charged With Murder of Migrant in Kips Bay
The brutal attack occurred outside the Target store at Second Avenue and East 29th Street.
Kips Bay /
| 15 Mar 2026 | 04:49
Santiago Asjac Sirin, migrant and murder victim who didn’t recover from his injuries. (
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Migrant Santiago Asjac Sirin in better days. (
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On the same day, March 5, 2026, that the Mamdani administration announced it would be closing the Bellevue men’s homeless shelter in Kips Bay, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the indictment of Lavel Boddie, 32, and Fritzgens Delia, 32, for the murder of 35-year-old Santiago Ajsac Sirin—a single crosstown block from that same homeless shelter in July 2025.
This isn’t a coincidence of geography either, for Boddie was himself a resident of that shelter, and it’s to Bellevue he and Delia both fled after their alleged attack on Sirin.
Boddie and Delia are each charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Murder in the Second Degree.
“Santiago Ajsac Sirin was a hardworking delivery man in Manhattan before these defendants cut his life short by brutally attacking him,” said District Attorney Bragg. “My heart goes out to Mr. Ajsac’s loved ones who are mourning his loss.”
“He was a very hardworking young man who worked as a delivery boy in Manhattan,” a friend of Sirin’s wrote in Spanish on a GoFund to raise money for the victim’s widow in Guatemala. “Unfortunately, he was robbed. They tried to take his bicycle and money.” Continued the friend, “It’s heartbreaking for me, but today it’s me, tomorrow it could be you.”
Because the GoFundMe is in Spanish, and only the Daily News seems to have reported it, the campaign has raised only $600 at press time.
As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, on July 13, 2025, Santiago Ajsac Sirin, was seated on a metal tree guard outside Target at 512 Second Avenue at East 29th Street in Kips Bay.
Boddie, Delia, and two other individuals approached Mr. Ajsac. Delia punched Mr. Ajsac in the face after a brief verbal exchange, causing him to fall backward and strike his head on the metal tree guard. Delia continued to strike him multiple times in the face and on his body, breaking his eye socket and nose.
While Delia was punching Mr. Ajsac, Boddie rummaged through his backpack and pockets.
After the attack, Boddie, Delia and the two other individuals walked away, leaving Mr. Ajsac lying on the ground. The group walked to the Bellevue Men’s Shelter located one block away, where Boddie went inside and changed his clothing. He also handed Delia a t-shirt to put on.
Mr. Ajsac was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent emergency brain surgery. Following the procedure, he remained in an a medically induced coma until his death on October 22, 2025.
On July 17, 2025, Delia was apprehended by the NYPD at the Bellvue homeless shelter. On August 4, 2025, Boddie was apprehended by the NYPD.
According to cops, Boddie was resident in an East Flatbush, Brooklyn, homeless shelter.
Both Boddie and Delia are being held on Rikers Island without bail. According the Department of Correction, Boddie is Black male, 5 foot 7 inches tall, 170 pounds. Delia is described as Black male, Haitian, 6 foot 1 inch, 210 pounds. They’re next scheduled court dates are June 17, 2026.