Man Accused of ‘Execution’ Style Murder of Jesse Parrilla and Nikki Huang Before Setting Them on Fire

According to court documents, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark indicted Jahmel Sanders, 30, of 105 Baruch Drive in Manhattan, with five counts of first degree murder plus kidnapping and other charges for shooting two people in a car and setting it on fire, incinerating them.

Univision 41 reported last year how Michelle Morales, Jesse Parrilla’s mother, said that he had seen “even the bones of his son”after he was murdered, because someone sent him the “horrifying” photos of his corpse.

Jesse was their only child.

According to the investigation, on May 16, 2022, the defendant and others allegedly abducted Nikki Huang, 22, and Jesse Parrilla, 22, transported them to Shore Road near Pelham Bay Park and they were shot execution type.

Presumably, says the prosecutor, they set fire to the car with the victims inside. Huang suffered gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Parilla suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Their bodies were burned almost to ashes.

At that time, Morales also reported that the week of May 16, his son had met with Nikki Huang, socially. After leaving her at her house, he was reportedly kidnapped and, later, the young woman was also tricked out of her house.

Authorities believe that the young had a dispute with a gang, and it is believed that the murder of both was a “settling of scores” with her.

Shortly before her son died, she called him several times, and the last time he answered she said, “I love you, Mom.” Then the call was abruptly cut off. And he didn’t answer the phone again.

The mother said that when the investigation into her son’s murder began, the authorities in charge told her that it had been a mistake, because Jesse was in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.

In announcing the charges against Sanders, District Attorney Clark said: “The deaths of these two young men allegedly capped a chain of violent events in Manhattan and Queens. A defendant has been brought to justice and we will hold anyone else involved in this horrific crime accountable.”

And I add; “I hope this indictment brings some comfort to the parents of the victims who are grieving the loss of their children, who were burned in such a way that they could not be recognized.”

Sanders is accused of more than 30 criminal charges: five counts of first degree murder, six counts of second degree murder, two counts of first degree manslaughter, two counts of first degree murder, second degree arson, two counts of second degree arson, two counts Third Degree Arson, Two Counts of First Degree Kidnapping, Two Counts of Second Degree Kidnapping, Two Counts of First Degree Criminal Use of a Firearm, Three Counts of Second Degree Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Two Counts of Second Degree charges of first degree robbery, third degree grand theft and fourth degree grand theft.

The defendant was placed in pretrial detention and he is due back in court on June 21, 2023.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Sheldon Smith of the Bronx Homicide, Pedro Gomez of the Violent Crimes Squad and John Soto of the 45th Precinct for their work on the case.