NYPD charged a third person with the murder of Nicole duFresne. The NY Times reports that 18 year old Ashley Evans was apprehended in Maryland, visiting her father (a former NYPD cop), and that her involvement including taking the .357 Magnum that Rudy Fleming used in the crime and hiding it. What's interesting is what Fleming's cousin, Servisio Simmon, said:
But yesterday, Servisio Simmon, 21, part of Mr. Fleming's group, said that Mr. Fleming did not intend to shoot Ms. duFresne. He said, "She kept raging after Rudy, she kept pushing him, she slipped over the snow." He added, "It went off," referring to the gun.
It's also unclear whether Evans, a cheerleader, and Fleming or Tatianna McDonald, the 14 year-old arrested two days ago, were involved. Evans's mother told the media that she wanted to apologize to the duFresne family and added, "The only thing I can say is I'm scared for my daughter -- my daughter is a normal teenager."
The whole matter is a terrible tragedy for both sides. Gothamist hopes that people will realize they need to be more aware if they are out late at night, no matter where they are. And given the quick police work on this case, perhaps others considering criminal acts will think again. Here is information about the Nicole duFresne Memorial Scholarship fund at Emerson College.
Updated: There's a Nicole duFresne memorial this afternoon at Angel Orensanz Foundation on Norfolk Street [more details at city rag]
