A 55-year-old male is currently in police custody following the
discovery of the body of 31-year-old Yazmeen Williams, which was located
inside a sleeping bag in Kips Bay last week. The medical examiner's
office has concluded that Williams suffered a gunshot wound to the head,
and her death has been classified as a homicide.
Chad Irish is confronted with multiple charges, which encompass the
concealment of a corpse, unlawful possession of a weapon, and menacing
behavior. Authorities report that Irish allegedly threatened a
47-year-old individual who recognized him at the Strauss Houses located
on East 28th Street, the site where the body of Williams was discovered.
Investigators continue to search for the murder weapon and are currently
executing a search warrant at Irish's apartment, where they suspect
that Williams was murdered.
Williams occasionally resided with Irish, yet the specifics of their
relationship remain ambiguous.
Irish has been characterized as "ambulatory," indicating that he is
capable of walking and, by extension, could potentially commit a murder.
However, he opts to utilize a wheelchair for mobility.
Irish has a history of 21 prior arrests dating back to the early 1990s
and has experienced multiple incarcerations in state prison. His most
recent release was on parole following a robbery that occurred in July
2022 in the Bronx. Although Irish has not yet been charged in connection
with the death of Williams, the investigation is ongoing.
The community in which the woman was discovered is in a state of
outrage. On Monday evening, a large crowd surrounded Irish as he was
removed from his residence on a stretcher and taken into custody. They
shouted accusations of murder, hurled insults, and physically assaulted
him, questioning why he would take the life of a woman who had been
raised in the neighborhood and was known to have had no conflicts with
anyone.
"Enough people around here were saying that they knew exactly who did
it," said neighbor Ted Oehmke. "I think that they probably already
didn't like him before and seeing that he did that to this girl, they
are understandably enraged and I don't blame them."
Williams' family characterized her as an individual who aspired to serve
as an advocate for women and to engage with the justice system in order
to support victims. "She possessed beauty, kindness, and a college
education; she truly was a remarkable person," remarked the victim's
aunt, Nisha Ramirez.