Pre-trial hearings held in 2017 killing of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo
NEW YORK -- Pre-trial hearings were held Tuesday in the Bronx for the man charged with fatally running over an FDNY EMT with her own ambulance back in 2017.
CBS2 was in the courtroom as other first responders testified.
Jose Gonzalez sat emotionless in court, but family members of Yadira Arroyo cried and some walked out as cellphone video played showing the aftermath on March 16, 2017. On the footage, the EMT's partner screamed in anguish over Arroyo's twisted body in the road.
"That brought back that horrific day. It was too much to handle," said Ali Acevedo-Hernandez, Arroyo's aunt.
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Responding police officers testified that once in the police car, Gonzalez made statements like, "I didn't do nothing," and that he was going to file a lawsuit and buy himself a Bentley. He also said his head hurt and that he was a nice guy.
When he was patted down, they described finding lipstick and necklace beads on him.
Toxicology tests for Gonzalez after his arrest came back positive for PCP and marijuana.
Police say Gonzalez was riding on the back of Arroyo's ambulance when he jumped off and took a backpack from a man. The victim flagged down Arroyo, who got out of the ambulance to speak with Gonzalez. That's when he allegedly jumped into the driver's seat, and, as she tried to stop him, he put it in reverse and hit her and then drove it forward, hitting Arroyo again, killing her.
Gonzalez's father was in the courtroom. Neither he nor his son's defense attorney would speak on camera.
Arroyo, called "Yaddi" by those who knew her, was a 14-year veteran and mother of five. It has been nearly six years since she was killed.
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Gonzalez was previously deemed unfit to stand trial, but in September it was ruled he could.
"Finally. We've been waiting for so long. It has been such a roller coaster of emotions," Acevedo-Hernandez said.
"No one should have to die or be murdered that way. Nobody," said A.J. Hernandez, the victim's uncle. 'We're all in pain and that pain will never go away, but there's a God up there and there's a justice system down here. Hopefully, they'll balance out. Again, we seek justice for Yadira."
Pre-trial hearings resume Wednesday. The judge anticipates jury selection to begin sometime next week.
Gonzalez is charged with murder, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, robbery, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
CLICK HERE for a look back on the case.
