Cops Question Arrest Fatal Shooting Victim's Fiancé for Murder

The police continue to investigate the Sunday shooting in the Bronx that claimed the life of an 18-year-old woman in front of her fiancé and their 1-year-old son. Chelsea Frazier's fiancé Carlos Cruz, 36, told his police they were fired upon when he struggled with a would-be robber, but Frazier's family question his version of events.

Frazier and Cruz were in the Bronx from Massachusetts, to visit Cruz's relatives. They pulled over on a street in Castle Hill to change toddler Alijah's diaper. Cruz claimed a man wanted his gold chain, and in an attempt to grab the gun, the gun went off and hit Frazier. A witness saw Cruz chase a gunman (Cruz was later shot in the leg) and other witnesses reported seeing another SUV speeding off.

An anonymous police source told the Times, "Much of that matches with what the living victim says." However, Frazier's grandmother Shirley Manthorne said the couple had been arguing over custody of the child (Cruz's cousin admitted they were "on and off). Manthorne wondered, “If this guy was really eyeing his chain around his neck, why didn’t he just say, ‘Here?’"

Update: Police have arrested Cruz and his cousin for staging the murder to look like a robbery. The Times reports that investigators believe when Cruz was chasing the shooter (really his cousin), he yelled, "Hey, you forgot to shoot me."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 15, 2008 12:24 PM

Comments [rss]

nik13

Fiancé! LOL. That's Spanish for statutory rapist, right?

JenniferAnnsGroup

Here is yet another coward who takes the life of an innocent teen rather than be a MAN and face the same relationship problems that we've all dealt with.

Two years ago a punk murdered my 18 year old daughter as well. He was an ex-boyfriend of hers and felt that she had "ruined his life."

Unfortunately our teens do not have the same experience with relationships that adults do and as a result often are lacking the insight to recognize a dangerous situation.

Please educate your teens about the very real dangers of Teen Dating Violence - a problem that affects 1 in 3 teens. It's too late for Chelsea Frazier and too late for my daughter, but hopefully it's not for those that you care about.

My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Chelsea. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Drew Crecente

Director, Jennifer Ann's Group

JenniferAnn.org

Fight Teen Dating Violence!

ihateallbrokers

"Hey, you forgot to shoot me."

dumb criminal award!!!

#19--I think the police were suspicious because the street they were on wasn't the kind of street (because it was quiet) that criminals would be on.

your not making any sense...a carjacking fake or not can occur on any street with cars?!!>!>!>

jaycjay

"#19--I think the police were suspicious because the street they were on wasn't the kind of street (because it was quiet) that criminals would be on."

That might have been a factor, but the police always take a strong look in a case like this at the "surviving victim." And, that approach seems to usually turn out to be justified -- the cases mentioned above in earlier comments are just a handful of the many examples.

Jen Chung

#19--I think the police were suspicious because the street they were on wasn't the kind of street (because it was quiet) that criminals would be on.

jaja007

Told you. Should have done it in a less deserted spot...

ChampionOfTheSun

I forgot you had to die in order win a Darwin award. Too bad his cousin didn't shoot him in the head.

ChampionOfTheSun

darwin award winner

I hope he gets ass-raped everyday.

jt10000

I am probably too cynical, but when I heard the first reports of this event (on 1010WINS) I immediately thought there was more to this story.

Reminds me of that case in Boston where Charles Stuart killed his wife and blamed some black man

Peter

The moron cousin agreed to do this for only $1,000???

Rmary

Glad they nailed him right away. Sorry ass Rae Carruth, Dr. in Queens, Dr. in Chappaqua, stat raping wannabe. At least Chuck Stuart really felt guilty and jumped off the Tobin bridge in Boston. Just move on and fail to pay child support like so many other "daddies." No reason to kill this woman.

Dave Hogarty

Made-for-TV-Movie Title: "Strangers to a Brain"

Politburo

"The Times reports that investigators believe when Cruz was chasing the shooter (really his cousin), he yelled, "Hey, you forgot to shoot me."

Maybe he was just making a Falling Down ref..

Jen Chung

It's good that this guy wasn't able to pull off the perfect murder--hopefully the investigation will lead to a strong case for the DA's office.

And it's sad that the readers who speculated the fiance was behind it were right.

Dave Hogarty

[8] I second that sentiment. Whatever happened to just breaking up? And that quote, "Hey, you forgot to shoot me!" illustrates that this idiot was never capable of pulling off the 'perfect crime' he might have imagined. Hopefully this totally adorable kid will be able to overcome the fact that her beautiful mother was murdered by her idiot father. [sigh]

bestview

Another sad, sad case of not knowing how to solve problems without violence. These guys were counting on an awful lot of luck, considering they staged it to look like an actual robbery. I'm glad this was figured out quickly. Do we really have to say "innocent until proven guilty" here?

Spirit of 76

What the hell is wrong with people??? Between this and that Russian doctor having her ex whacked in a playground in front of their daughter, it's hard to understand why they want custody to begin with. Even if you get away with it and get custody, you've scarred the kid for life. And chances are you won't get away with it because these schemes almost always unravel. Unbelievable.

BMMDan

what an awful story. can't you just call off the wedding?

Snoopy

WAIT A MINUTE HERE! She's 18 and has a 1-year-old son. That would make her 17 when she dropped the load and 9 months younger when the piece of shit knocked her up. Duh?

Do we see a crime here?