WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY – A double homicide occurred in Washington Heights on Friday evening, where a couple and their pet dog were brutally gunned down during a casual walk. The victims have been identified as Jacqueline Billini, 57, and Levaughn Harvin, 42. The pair was ambushed near Highbridge Park, around West 165th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, according to law enforcement officials.
The assailant, who remains at large, fired a minimum of six shots, striking both victims and their pit bull. Billini suffered fatal injuries to her head and neck, while Harvin was hit in the face and shoulder. The dog was also targeted and killed in the attack. The couple was immediately transported to Harlem Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
In a chilling twist, it was revealed that this was not the first time Billini had been a victim of violence. Earlier this year, in April, she survived a terrifying home invasion. An unstable individual armed with a hammer had knocked on her door in the early hours of the morning. When Billini attempted to shut the door on the agitated and yelling intruder, he forced his way in, breaking her right arm in the process. She was treated for her injuries from this unexpected attack at Harlem Hospital.
A 31-year-old resident of the same building was later arrested in connection to the invasion. The resident was also charged with assault and attempted burglary in connection with the April incident, as confirmed by the New York Police Department on Saturday. While the investigation into the recent shooting continues, it is not yet clear whether the two incidents are related to one another.