Family speaks out after loved one fatally shot at work; suspect charged with murder
Ryan Hines, a longtime porter at 1412 College Ave., was gunned down while on duty. His girlfriend says the loss is devastating, especially for his two young children, who are now orphaned.
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A family is grieving after a 37-year-old father was shot and killed while working as a porter early Wednesday morning.
The victim’s loved ones are now speaking out as the suspect faces multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder.
Ryan Hines, a longtime porter at 1412 College Ave., was gunned down while on duty. His girlfriend says the loss is devastating, especially for his two young children, who are now orphaned.
Their mother died nine years ago.
“He just was well-loved. He loved everybody,” said the victim's girlfriend, Betsy.
Hines had worked at the building for three years and was known for his dedication.
“He would go out at all hours of the night. It didn’t matter just to check on the buildings like they were his, to make sure that they were good,” Betsy said.
She also shared that Hines had raised concerns about harassment by residents, which she says made it difficult for him to work.
“In another building, he had a gun pulled out on him before. He was spooked out. He said, ‘I don’t want to go back there again. This is crazy,’” she said.
Jimmy Avila is now charged in his death.
Avila had posted videos on YouTube documenting past interactions with Hines, including one from January.
The YouTube video shows a disagreement between Avila and Hines. Avila recorded Hines as he gets out of his car to start work.
“That’s harassment,” Betsy said after viewing the footage. “You were already recording him just because he came to work. Why?”
In civil court filings, Avila claimed he was the one being harassed by residents. Other legal documents cite Avila as having mental health issues.
Betsy says Hines repeatedly warned building management about these encounters, but no action was taken.
“You couldn’t listen to what this man was trying to tell you. Now, he has to pay for all the things you didn’t do,” she said.
An email from a New York state housing program reveals that officials were in the process of evicting Avila after he allegedly assaulted a staff member and broke into another apartment. That eviction, however, was never completed.
Hines leaves behind two children, two stepchildren and a community grappling with the aftermath of what his family calls a preventable tragedy.
