Bro ‘domestic violence’ vic
Gal pal in stab slay abused Bx. dad of 2, kin & friend say
A Bronx dad who died three weeks after being stabbed by his girlfriend was a long-suffering victim of domestic violence, and never shared details of his strife with kin, his family said.
Edward Campos, 38, was an optimistic, fun-loving Parks Department worker who lived for making his two children smile, family members recounted. He was also a domestic violence victim, they said, alleging Yarelis Olmeda’s attack came after months of abuse.
“What happens behind closed doors, stays behind closed doors,” lamented Edward’s younger brother, Shane Campos. “It’s messed up all around the board. He could have spoken to anybody, he had so many outlets. My brother was very to himself.”
Campos’ family believes the couple was dating for about six months. Police had no record of domestic strife, cops said.
“I think people need to realize as times are going, domestic violence is still around, you know,” said Shane Campos, 32. “Everyone’s concerned about everything else in this world when real-life problems happen in people’s homes.”
Campos’ stepsister, Liz Walker, 37, said he and Olmeda had an argument, possibly over breaking up, right before the stabbing.
One person close to Campos, who didn’t want her name used, said Campos and Olmeda split, but she was threatening and stalking him, and lived in the same building as him.
Police say Olmeda stabbed Campos in the right shoulder outside his girlfriend’s home in the Soundview Houses on
Randall Ave. near Rosedale Ave. about 9:55 p.m. Feb. 20. The blade severed an artery, and he died at Jacobi Medical Center March 12.
“My brother is a victim of domestic violence,” Walker said. “It’s very unfortunate because when you hear domestic violence, you hear about a woman being abused, and it does happen to men. Men just don’t talk about it the way women talk about it.”
Olmeda, 41, was arrested
March 4 and charged with attempted murder and assault. She could face upgraded charges. She remains held on $100,000 bail.
“We just knew he got stabbed and he was in the hospital, we didn’t know the extent of it because we thought he got stabbed and it was something minor,” Walker said.
His brother said he couldn’t visit Campos at the hospital because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“It was just pandemonium and chaos. I got the call from my sister that he was injured,” Shane Campos said. “He survived somewhat at Jacobi, stable condition. He had two cardiac arrests that really did the damage.”
Campos had a passion for music, dancing and joking, his brother recalled.
“He loved his kids, man, he made them smile,” he said.
“He left his spirit with me cause you know that’s all I got of him,” Shane Campos said. “There’s nothing that can replace him, not a object, not memorabilia. Nothing can replace the physical aspect of it.”
His stepmother, Shawn Ramos, described Campos as humble and kind.
“His brother and him are close, very, very close. It’s terrible what happened,” Ramos said. “In that moment you don’t know what you are doing, and in that quarter of a second, look what you did to our family. We are without him.”
“He has a quirky smile, I’m gonna miss his quirky smile,.” she added.