Saturday 2 July 2022 12:15 AM NYPD arrests man on suspicion of murder of new mom, 20, on Upper East Side trends now
Azsia Johnson, 20, was fatally shot in the head while pushing her baby in a stroller on the Upper East Side on Wednesday
The father of a three-month-old baby has been arrested by police in New York, after the child's mother was shot point-blank while pushing their child in a stroller on the Upper East Side.
Azsia Johnson, 20, was shot in the head at 8:30pm on Wednesday.
The infant's father had been identified as a person of interest on Friday, and was taken in for questioning.
He has not been named.
His arrest came hours after distraught family and friends of Johnson mourned her loss at a vigil held on Thursday night, where Johnson's mother accused authorities of ignoring her repeated complaints of domestic violence.
The vigil was held at the playground near where Johnson was shot in the head.
Johnson's mother Lisa Desort, who has said she believes an abusive ex-boyfriend is the killer, was visibly emotional as she said that her daughter's death could have been prevented.
'We called every day to the domestic violence [unit]. You know what they told me, it's not harassment if he makes a threat,' the weeping mother said.
'Now, my daughter is dead. She's dead! A 20-year-old female with a credit score of 800.'
At the vigil, Desort was seen in quiet conversation with Mayor Eric Adams, who later stood beside her and offered condolences in brief remarks to the crowd.
The vigil concluded with a balloon release, as those gathered were heard sobbing as they said, 'we love you, Azsia.'
Azsia Johnson's mother Lisa Desort (left), who has said she believes an abusive ex-boyfriend is the killer, was visibly emotional at a vigil on Thursday as she said that her daughter's death could have been prevented
Mayor Eric Adams speaks to Lisa Desort, mother of Azsia Johnson, 20, who was murdered yesterday as she strolled her infant child on the Upper East Side
The victims mother Lisa Desort is consoled at a vigil where the community gathered a day after the murder
A candlelight vigil for Azsia Johnson, 20, who was murdered as she strolled her infant child on the upper east side
Mayor Eric Adams speaks to the press during a candlelight vigil for Azsia Johnson, 20, who was murdered yesterday
Earlier, Desort alleged her daughter was assaulted by her 22-year-old ex-boyfriend about six months ago despite being six months pregnant with his child.
She accused the man, who has not been named, of 'stalking' and 'harassing' her girl after the incident and said they had pleaded with cops to intervene.
But Desort claimed he was never arrested and slammed officers for 'failing to protect her' daughter, who was shot in the back of the head in the Upper East Side last night.
Johnson was the victim of the horrific attack that saw a hooded man in black clothing blast her in the back of the head from point-blank range at 8.23pm on Wednesday.
She had reportedly texted her family to tell them she was planning to meet her ex-boyfriend before she was murdered on the sidewalk. Her baby was unharmed.
Desort told The New York Post through tears on Thursday afternoon: 'We called the precinct numerous times to tell the [domestic violence] unit that he was stalking and harrassing her.
'Even [though] they knew what apartment he lived in, they failed to apprehend and arrest him,' the mom continued. The city failed to protect my daughter.'
She added to Fox News: 'All that anyone needs to know in this city is we called numerous times for her protection. No one protected my daughter, and now she's dead.'
NYPD have identified a person of interest and is probing a domestic violence link in the fatal shooting, according to City Council member Julie Menin, who represents the area.
Lisa Desort, (center) mother of murder victim Azsia Johnson, arrives at the candlelight vigil on Thursday
Lisa Desort speaks with Mayor Adams at an emotional vigil mourning her daughter, who was murdered on Wednesday
!['We called every day to the domestic violence [unit]. You know what they told me, it's not harassment if he makes a threat,' the weeping mother said. 'Now, my daughter is dead. She's dead!'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/01/23/59739153-0-_We_called_every_day_to_the_domestic_violence_unit_You_know_what-a-17_1656716036544.jpg)
'We called every day to the domestic violence [unit]. You know what they told me, it's not harassment if he makes a threat,' the weeping mother said. 'Now, my daughter is dead. She's dead!'
Johnson's mother Lisa Desort, who has said she believes an abusive ex-boyfriend is the killer, was visibly emotional as she said that her daughter's death could have been prevented
The vigil concluded with a balloon release, as those gathered were heard sobbing as they said, 'we love you, Azsia'
The baby's father has not been named a suspect in the women's killing but police are trying to locate him for questioning, sources told New York Daily News.
A hooded shooter approached Johnson and 'fired a single shot into her head from a very close range,' NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters at a press conference held Wednesday night.
The victim was rushed to the hospital where she died. The baby was unharmed. Desort told PIX11 that her daughter had taken her baby daughter to the park when the shooting happened.
She had been using a tracking app to keep tabs on Johnson and became concerned when it showed she was in the hospital. Desort said she tried to call, but there was no answer.
Police then showed up at her door with the heartbreaking news. 'I fell to the ground,' she said.
Sources told the New York Daily News the young mother had texted relatives saying she was planning to meet up with her child's father the night she was killed, so they could talk things out.
She had reportedly been assaulted by him while pregnant and wasn't sure if she wanted him in her life. 'It appears she was targeted, not a stray bullet,' a police source said of the shooting.
'Close contact wound to the head. She had powder burns on her head, to show you how close he was.' It's not clear if recent alleged assaults were reported to the police, but the victim's mother claims they called for help 'numerous' times.
'He threatened me with
