My name is Catalina Baez as many of you heard my brother Leo was brutally murdered in Times Square on w 43rd st on May 4th 2026.

My brother was a loving and caring father of two. He was an amazing, charismatic person who lived each day enjoying the sun and appreciating life to the fullest. In a city that never sleeps, our brother went to sleep not knowing it would be his last night.

He loved to travel and spend time with his family. My brother enjoyed riding his bike anywhere he possibly could. He was hard-working, despite the lifestyle he lived. At one point, my brother traveled all the way from Massachusetts to Florida on his bike just so he could put his feet in the ocean. While he was in Florida, he helped an elderly community with landscaping work to make some extra cash.

His ultimate goal was to travel across the United States to California on his bike.

This savage attack on someone who would not hurt a fly is completely unjust. My sister, my brother, and I sat in the DA’s office today and watched the brutal video that will soon be released so the public can see that our brother did nothing wrong. There was no provocation and no reason behind it other than a senseless act of violence.

Not only was our brother murdered, but a father, son, friend, cousin, and uncle was taken from us. Our family is trying to pick up the pieces and understand how this could happen, but we will never be able to fill the hole this has left in our hearts.

We are desperately asking for any help the community and loved ones may be able to provide. We have set up a GoFundMe in hopes of bringing our brother home to Massachusetts, where his ashes will be laid to rest next to our mother. We also hope to carry his ashes across the country to the places he always dreamed of being.

No amount is too small, and we are grateful for anything anyone can give. Even a simple share of this post would mean the world to us.