A hardworking immigrant who worked as a food runner and bus boy at a popular Manhattan restaurant has died after he was robbed and brutally beaten by five men on a bridge notorious for random attacks in the South Bronx.
Tiburcio Castillo, 37, affectionately known as “Tibo,” died Tuesday after being bludgeoned into a coma following the June 28 attack and being kept alive for thirteen days.
The married father of four worked at the French bistro Quatorze at 1578 First Avenue at 82nd Street in New York NYC.
Castillo rode his e-bike to his home in the South Bronx after finishing his work shift. He rode along the Willis Avenue Bridge when he was ambushed by five men who beat and robbed him.
The five men who allegedly brutally murdered Castillo have not been caught. An NYPD spokesman told DailyMail.com on Friday that “never was a complaint made by the name of Tiburcio Castillo.”
The Willis Avenue Bridge, which stretches from First Avenue and East 124th Street in Manhattan to Willis Avenue and East 134th Street in the Bronx, is known to be “one of the most dangerous in the city” and a place where “robberies and muggings are frequent,” it said Sergio Solano, one of the heads of the Deliverista advocacy group, The newspaper de los Deliveryboys en la Gran Manzana (The Diary of the Delivery Boys in the Big Apple) reported.
When Castillo didn’t return home or showed up for his work shift at the restaurant the next day, his family panicked.
He was later found at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx fighting for his life.
Castillo died on Tuesday after succumbing to injuries sustained in the horrific attack.
Tiburcio Castillo, 37, affectionately known as “Tibo,” died Tuesday after the brutal attack that left him in a coma and on life support for thirteen days. He leaves behind a wife and four children aged 4 to 14
The Willis Avenue Bridge, which stretches from First Avenue and East 124th Street in Manhattan to Willis Avenue and East 134th Street in the Bronx, is known as “one of the most dangerous in the city” and a place where ” Assaults and robberies are often committed,” Sergio Solano, one of the leaders of a Deliverista advocacy group, told El Diario de los Deliveryboys en la Gran Manzana (The Diary of the Big Apple Delivery Boys).
On Friday, McNeice organized a fundraiser at his restaurant to support Castillo’s family. He said 150 attendees are expected and an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 will be raised
The social media post informs the community of a fundraiser taking place at Quatorze, the French bistro where Castillo worked
Castillo had worked in Quatorze for six months before the brutal attack.
Alex McNeice, a partner at Quatorze restaurant, told DailyMail.com that Castillo only cares about his family and providing for them. He was also active in the school community.
He said Castillo was the breadwinner and would send money to his family in Mexico.
“Just an incredibly kind person,” he said.
McNeice said he recently got his cousin and younger brother jobs at the restaurant.
“He was a beautiful, beautiful person,” McNeice said. “He always had a smile on his face. Never complained. He volunteered to work here six nights a week.”
On Friday, McNeice organized a fundraiser at his restaurant to support Castillo’s family. He said 150 attendees are expected and an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 will be raised.
“This is going to be one of the greatest nights we’ve ever had here. There was so much support from residents and the community,” McNeice said.
An established Upper East Side establishment for almost 40 years, Quatorze was located on East 79th Street before moving to its current location on East 82nd Street.
“Guests would come in and make their own donations by giving cash or writing personal checks,” he said.
McNeice also created one GoFundMe to help the Castillo family. The target was originally $10,000 but surpassed more than $50,000 as of Friday afternoon.
He told DailyMail.com that not all of the people involved in the deadly attack on Castillo have been caught.
Two teenagers, aged between 15 and 16, were taken in but later released because they could not be identified, he said.
When DailyMail.com tried to confirm this detail with an NYPD spokesman, they didn’t respond.
“That should have been avoided,” McNiece said. ‘This particular bridge [Willis Avenue Bridge] A lot of abuse has happened here. It seems these immigrant communities are not receiving the same level of protection and this needs to stop.”
