Grief, rage in Bx. slay
Let subway suspect rot, vic’s kin say
A violent ex-con has been accused of fatally knifing an aspiring fashion designer in a Bronx subway station — and the victim’s furious father said Monday he hopes the alleged killer rots.
Ramziddin Trowell, 42, faces murder, attempted murder, assault and weapon possession charges in the stabbing death of Rudolph
Dunning 25, at the Morrison Ave.-Soundview station early Saturday. He’s also accused of stabbing and wounding Dunning’s 28year-old cousin.
“F—- that piece of s—-. He killed my son,” Dunning’s father said, fighting tears and surrounded by grim-faced relatives outside the Bronx courtroom where Trowell was arraigned Monday night.
“He and his whole family should rot in f—-ing hell,” added the grieving dad, who wouldn’t give his name. Trowell, who was arrested after police released surveillance images of him, has nine prior arrests and has served two prison stints, one for attempted assault and one for weapon possession, according to records. He was ordered held without bail until his next court appearance Friday.
Dunning, who lived in East New York, Brooklyn, and celebrated his birthday last week, rarely even took the subway, usually using Uber or a skateboard to get around, his devastated family said.
But police say he propped open the emergency gate for Trowell, who was asking to be let in, about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.
Moments later, police said, Dunning and his cousin got into an argument with Trowell as they walked toward the Manhattan-bound 6 train platform.
That’s when Trowell attacked, police said, repeatedly stabbing Dunning in the back and chest, and Dunning’s cousin in the chest, back and hand.
Dunning was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but could not be saved. The cousin was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in stable condition.
His adoptive mother, April Gussie-Dunning, said he used to skateboard everywhere, and when he stopped, he’d travel by Uber.
“Nothing but goodness. That’s what he was all about. Nothing but kindness and goodness. He was a happygo-lucky young man,” she said at a vigil outside his childhood home in East New York Monday night.
More than 50 mourners gathered, carrying lit candles and star-shaped balloons, all trying to process why someone Dunning helped out moments earlier would kill him.
“I’m standing here with these people, and I’m thinking this s— is not happening, not to this guy that everybody loves,” Ashlyn (Diamond) Thomas, Dunning’s ex-girlfriend and close friend. “He didn’t do nothing to nobody to even cause this problem.”
Dunning would help anyone who asked, anyone in need, she said.
“I just hope he never comes out to hurt anyone else ever again, because what I’m feeling I wish that no other mother would ever have to go through this pain again,” Gussie-Dunning said of Trowell. “So I hope they never ever let him out.”
Family members described Rudy as a “baby penny,” referring to his age and knack for dressing sharp. They said he worked night shifts from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. and spent most of his free time at home designing clothing and making music.