Tempers flared over a double-parked car on Austin Street in Kew Gardens, before the confrontation turned deadly on Thursday night, leaving one dead and another injured.
Police responded to a 911 call shortly after 8 p.m. on Thursday reporting that Roberto Adanes, 25, and his brother Jovanny, 30, were shot after clashing with two men over their parked car near 125th Street. The shooter, described as a middle-aged Russian man, was reportedly laughing as he shot the Adanes brothers.
Eyewitnesses said the incident began when the brothers, double-parked in a Cadillac Escalade, blocked the suspects’ white work van from passing. After the men in the van waited three minutes, apparently with patience, said witnesses, they were finally able to pass. Moments later both cars passed each other again and the passengers shouted threats back and forth before the van moved on.
Witnesses told reporters the two suspects in the van drove away and then returned on foot. When Robert Adanes saw one of them pull out a gun he tried to stop him, and was shot at close range in the chest. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Jamaica Hospital. Jovanny is still hospitalized in stable condition.
On Monday night, police brought in an unidentified 47-year-old man for questioning, but he was released without charges.
Police are still seeking the suspects and are asking for public assistance in gathering information. The NYPD has released a sketch of the shooter and a grainy photo of the white work van which reportedly has Connecticut plates. It’s likely the two were working in the area; a local shop owner said they visited the store several times throughout the day.
Anyone with information in regards to this homicide is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at nypdcrimestoppers.com or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
by David J. Harvey
