Convicted killer busted again after NYPD cops find loaded gun

A Bronx man with a history of criminal activity found himself back in police custody this week after officers discovered him drinking alcohol in his car and uncovered a loaded gun inside the vehicle. Anthony Rivera, 46, was arrested at the corner of West 128th Street and Eighth Avenue in Harlem on Thursday evening.

Upon approaching Rivera’s red Mitsubishi Outlander, officers found him consuming alcohol. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded SCCY CPX-2 pistol, brass knuckles, and a stash of drugs, including what appeared to be crack cocaine. Rivera, who had previously served time for a manslaughter conviction and was released from prison in 2018, now faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Rivera’s criminal history includes seven prior arrests, with the most serious charge relating to the 2007 stabbing death of David Fuentes, 30, inside a University Heights home. The fatal incident was the result of a prior dispute, with Fuentes disappearing after telling his family he was going to take his son swimming but needed to make a quick stop at the store.

Fuentes was last seen entering a basement apartment near his home and was later found dead in a pool of blood inside the premises. Rivera, along with another suspect, was arrested in connection with the case. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in 2011 and served 11 years behind bars before his release in 2018.

Rivera’s release was part of a conditional release program for inmates not serving life sentences, but he was briefly sent back into custody in early 2018. Following his release, he was on community supervision until December 2021. In addition to the manslaughter conviction, Rivera has a history of drug-related offenses, including possession and sale charges between 2001 and 2006.

Further arrests on Rivera’s record include drug possession with intent to sell, armed robbery in 1997, assaulting a police officer in 2006, and smuggling contraband into Rikers Island in 2008. His arraignment for the recent charges was pending as of Friday.

The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with repeat offenders and underscores the importance of vigilant policing in keeping communities safe.