Neighbors and friends react after woman choked to death near Times Square
MANHATTAN (PIX11) -- Shocking developments have emerged about a young woman who was stalked on the street before being choked and beaten to death just steps from Times Square.
Police say the suspect and the victim did not know one another.
The young woman from Hell's Kitchen, Leslie Torres, was mysteriously found unconscious and clinging to life on Restaurant Row, on October 29th. Court records show Torres, 23, was rushed to the hospital on October 29 but was taken off life support last week.
“She was in a coma and died a horrible death,” said the victim's neighbor, Johnny Wilcox.
On Tuesday afternoon, police arrested 33-year-old Jaheem Warren of Prospect Park, New Jersey. He was charged with murder and strangulation.
“This was just a random attack on her,” said friend, Asia Johnson.
Police sources say the ex-con was likely on a drug binge and randomly stalked Torres in the early morning hours. In a heinous, unprovoked act, he allegedly strangled her on West 46th Street near 8th Avenue, beating her and leaving Torres unconscious.
“She would tend to walk peacefully in the community, just for a breath of air. It just happened that this man attacked her when she went out,” Johnson added.
Torres lived a block away in transitional housing. Neighbors plan to hold a remembrance vigil for her on Wednesday.
“She was full of life, pretty, sweet, young. It’s devastating this happened to her,” Johnson said.
While murders are down in Midtown North this year, robbery, rape, and assaults are up, unsettling to tourists and residents alike.
“It’s scary; it’s horrible. It’s very scary, isn’t it? And it always tends to be women,” said Lyndsay and Michael Fields of England.
State records show Warren was released from a New Jersey prison last March. When questioned by reporters as he was led away in handcuffs, he denied killing anyone.
Torres was on life support for six days but was declared brain-dead and removed from life support. The suspect is being held without bail.