Two accused of fatally beating fruit stand owner with a bat: DA

THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) — Two men were indicted in connection with fatally beating a street fruit vendor on Fordham Road on Sept. 12, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced Thursday.

The victim, Leslie Sanchez, 56, died in the hospital two days later.

Terrence Downes, 44, of Queens, was indicted on charges of murder and manslaughter. Romel Jarrett, 37, was charged with manslaughter.

The defendants and victim were involved in an argument, during which Sanchez accused the two of theft, prosecutors say. The two men allegedly hit Sanchez in the head seven times with a baseball bat, prosecutors said.

“The defendants allegedly beat the victim with a baseball bat after he confronted them for stealing from his fruit stand. The victim was repeatedly clubbed in the head and died two days later. The defendants will be held accountable for this brutality,” Clark said.

Downes was arraigned Thursday and is due back in court on Dec. 23. Jarrett will be arraigned at a later date.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.