BRONX DA: TRAVIS BLOCH ARRAIGNED IN KILLING OF CHRISTOPHER DURAN; ALSO IN ANOTHER SHOOTING WITH SAME GUN

TRAVIS BLOCH PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO KILLING OF TEEN CHRISTOPHER DURAN

Also Arraigned in Prior Incident Using Same Weapon

Travis Bloch 2014

(Bronx, NY – July 14, 2015) – Bronx Supreme Court District Attorney Robert Johnson announces the Supreme Court indictment of 28-year-old TRAVIS BLOCH for the May 22nd shooting death of 14-year-old CHRISTOPHER DURAN.

 

BLOCH was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett and pled not guilty to the charges of:

 

                Murder in the 2nd Degree (Class A-1 Felony)

                Manslaughter in the 1st Degree (Class B Felony)

                Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony)

               

At the same time, he was arraigned for and pled not guilty to the May 16, 2015 shooting of JORGE ORTIZ, in front of that victim’s apartment building on the Grand Concourse.

 

Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree (Class B Felony)

                Assault in the 1st Degree (Class B Felony)

                Assault in the 2nd Degree (2 counts)(Class D Felony)

                Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony)

               

Christopher Duran was about to leave his building to head for school when he was ambushed in front of his apartment building at 1181 Sheridan Avenue by BLOCH and suspect JEREMIAH THOMAS.  BLOCH is accused of opening up at close range with a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, firing more than six shots at the 14-year-old, killing him.

 

TRAVIS BLOCH was apprehended a month after the shooting in the Binghamton, New York area.

 

JEREMIAH THOMAS was apprehended by authorities in Pennsylvania last night; he will be extradited to face charges in the Bronx.

 

Ballistics from the gun used in the CHRISTOPHER DURAN shooting matched the May 16th Grand Concourse incident,  in which TRAVIS BLOCH and suspect JEREMIAH THOMAS allegedly ambushed JORGE ORTIZ in front of his apartment building.  BLOCH is accused of firing multiple shots at ORTIZ, who survived.

 

BLOCH was remanded to jail, and his case was adjourned to October 6th in Part 60, Bronx Supreme Court.  If convicted, TRAVIS BLOCH faces a prison sentence of 50 years to life.

 

The case against TRAVIS BLOCH is being prosecuted by Bronx Assistant D.A. Christine Scaccia, Senior Trial Assistant, Gangs/Major Case Bureau.

 

The charges in this indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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