Police on Monday identified the man they believe killed a Bronx father during a senseless dispute the victim was not involved in.
Anthony Riser, 27, is accused of fatally shooting 28-year-old Richard Spigner Jr. outside the victim’s apartment building on Rodman Place near West Farms Road in West Farms around 6:15 p.m. Dec. 21, police said.
Spigner was in the lobby of the building chatting with a neighbor when the gunman walked in and began asking questions about one of Spigner’s friends he had a beef with, the slain man’s sister told the Daily News after the killing.
Uninvolved in the disagreement, Spigner lent the gunman his phone to ring the friend, but as the call grew heated, Spigner stepped outside to move a double-parked car. When he returned, the gunman was still on the phone, according to his sister, Tasia Legrand.
The situation spiraled out of control when the neighbor Spigner was previously speaking with in the lobby tried to grab the phone from the killer, who pulled out a gun and fired off shots, two of which hit Spigner’s face and chest.
Medics rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital, but he could not be saved. Spigner had two sons, ages 3 and 1, and had just started a new job at a nursing home days before his death, according to his sister.
Police released a mugshot of Riser in the hope the public may be able to help track him down.
He has numerous prior arrests in the city dating back to 2013, including for assault, criminal possession of a weapon and robbery, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
