Arrests made in slaying of NY cleaner
Police believe that the armed robbery and
subsequent murder of New York drycleaner Bruce Levy in early
October was planned up to four months in advance and included
several criminal conspirators.
Levy, 52, was shot and killed outside his
Long Island City plant, Red Cap Services, while he was carrying
approximately $17,000 in cash for his employee payroll.
He was the owner and operator of the
cleaning store for almost 20 years.
So far, the police investigation has lead
to the arrests of four people, all of whom allegedly played a
role in the crime.
Arraigned on November 9 was suspected
gunman Denworth Davidson, 21, of Canarsie, who prosecutors
claimed fired shots into Levy’s arm and throat before
stealing the $17,000 in cash and fleeing by car.
Prior to the arraignment proceedings, he
was arrested on second-degree murder and other charges and
ordered to be held without bail.
Speaking before Criminal Court Judge
Lenora Gerald in Kew Gardens, Assistant District Attorney
Natalie Bell quoted Davison as saying, “I took the gun
out and pointed it at him and demanded his money. He struggled.
I shot him. He fell and got back up and I shot him again, after
he fell a second time.”
According to Davison’s police
statement, 28-year-old Canarsie resident Jerome Fletcher
— a former Red Cap Valet employee who was fired over a
salary dispute — recruited him for the robbery.
Davison claims that he and Fletcher had
visited the plant together prior to the robbery in order to
“check the place out.”
Fletcher, who was arrested in Orlando, FL,
was believed to be the getaway driver, as well. His
ex-girlfriend, Davia Gabriel, 28, another worker for Red Cap,
was charged by police for robbery and criminal facilitation.
Authorities noted that she had tipped Fletcher off to when Levy
made his weekly payroll delivery.
Police also arrested a fourth suspect in
the case — Fletcher’s current girlfriend, Stacey
Whittaker, 28, of Farmingdale, a teller at the Rockville Centre
Bank. She allegedly laundered $4,000 of the cash at the bank
and loaned the robbers her car, which served as the getaway
vehicle.
After denying having any knowledge of the
crime, police later booked her for hindering the prosecution.
Levy’s widowed wife, Kathi, 52, was
appalled by the crime, especially since her husband often
showed generosity to all of his employees.
She told Newsday, Inc., that his kindness
had been extended to Gabriel, whom he still paid even when she
had to skip work.
“I feel betrayed,” she told
reporters. “She didn’t appreciate the goodness he
did for her.”
Following the shooting, Kathi Levy feared
for the safety of her family, but was relieved when police
culminated their investigation with the arrests.
“I feel justice now will be
served,” she said. “It’s going to help us now
go on and really begin grieving.”
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