WAKEFIELD, Bronx, New York — A Mount Vernon man has been charged with murder after police say he fatally shot his 39-year-old niece in the Bronx during what investigators believe was a bitter family dispute over the inheritance of a home.
The victim, Julia Anderson, was shot shortly after midnight Tuesday while sitting inside her Jeep Grand Cherokee on Murdock Avenue in the Wakefield neighborhood. Police arrested 58-year-old Michael Foster on Wednesday evening, charging him with murder, manslaughter and multiple weapons offenses.
Police Say Family Inheritance Dispute Led to Deadly Shooting
According to investigators, the shooting stemmed from an ongoing disagreement over ownership of a two-family home in Mount Vernon.
Authorities believe Foster was upset after the property, previously owned by his late mother, Icilda Foster, who died in 2023, was reportedly left to her oldest grandchild instead of him.
Police allege the long-running inheritance dispute escalated into violence, ultimately ending in Anderson’s death. Detectives continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Victim Was Shot After Finishing Work Shift
Investigators said Anderson had just completed her 4 p.m. to midnight shift at a nonprofit organization that provides care for adults with developmental disabilities.
She was sitting inside her vehicle, parked across the street from the group home where she worked, when she was shot twice in the chest shortly after midnight Tuesday.
Following the arrest, detectives escorted Foster out of the 47th Precinct without comment. Meanwhile, members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit spent hours gathering evidence at the Mount Vernon residence connected to the investigation.
Coworkers Remember Anderson’s Dedication
Friends and coworkers described Anderson as a compassionate employee who devoted nearly two decades to helping others.
Omayra Andino, CEO of the nonprofit where Anderson had worked for 17 years, said the loss has devastated the entire organization.
“There’s not one bad word uttered about her. She cared so much about the people that she supports,” Andino said.
She added that Anderson had previously declined a promotion because she loved working directly with the people she served.
“Shock is probably the least I could say, but devastation is probably more accurate,” Andino said after meeting with staff following the tragedy.
Loved ones also revealed that Anderson was just one month away from celebrating her 40th birthday.
Murder Charges Filed as Investigation Continues
Police charged Foster with murder, manslaughter and 10 counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Investigators have not released additional details about the evidence collected or whether further charges could follow.
The allegations outlined by investigators represent the prosecution’s case. Foster has been formally charged but is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What are your thoughts on this tragic family dispute? Should more legal resources be available to help families resolve inheritance conflicts before they escalate? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
