A memorial has appeared on the basketball court along East 109th Street between Second and Third Avenues in East Harlem in memory of a delivery worker killed in what his loved ones believe was a robbery.
On Monday, March 29 at around 10:30 p.m., Francisco Villalva Vitinio was shot and killed while working for a food delivery app.
His fellow workers along with family, friends and neighbors have been stopping each day to pay their respects.
A man named Arturo visited the sire Monday. He’s is in the industry, and also lives in the neighborhood.
“Whoever did this, he killed a hard-working person, a very honest guy,” he said.
They believe he was killed for his electric.
NYPD is investigating and has met with the family.
Ligia Guallpa is director of Worker’s Justice Project, a Brooklyn-based center that advocates for day laborers and domestic workers .
“These are first responders keeping New Yorkers fed. There are 80,000 delivery workers. They keep New Yorkers safe and they risk their lives every single day,” she said.
A march is planned for April 21 at 2 p.m. beginning at Broadway and 42nd Street.