BRONX, NY — A long-standing neighbor dispute in a Morris Heights apartment building turned deadly Thursday night, ending with a 76-year-old man in handcuffs and his 21-year-old neighbor dead.
According to the NYPD, Gilbert Smalls was arrested on Friday after allegedly confessing to the shooting of Justin Chatfield. The confession came as a surprise to officers who were simply knocking on Smalls’ door at 30 Richman Plaza to canvass for surveillance footage related to the crime.
A Fatal Encounter in the Hallway
The shooting occurred around 10:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026. According to the victim’s mother, Melinda, her son went into the hallway to investigate a “commotion.” Moments later, he was shot in the torso.
The 21-year-old managed to run back into his family’s apartment, where he collapsed in front of his mother…