Rudolph Superville and Gary Lopez
Authorities believe the two victims found after a Howard Beach brush fire last week may have died as a result of a dispute in a turf war over drugs.
A 34-year-old Brooklyn man has been charged with the murder of two men whose bodies were discovered in the aftermath of last weeks brush fire .
Rogelio Rodriguez, 34, of 143 Grove Street in Brooklyn is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree manslaughter, one count of third- degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of tampering with physical evidence.
District Attorney Richard Brown said, “The defendant is accused of participating in the brutal murder of two men whose bodies were dumped and intentionally set on fire in an attempt to cover up the alleged crime. This case will be pursued to ensure that justice is served.”
The bodies were recovered after a fire that started across the street from 159-19 78th Street about 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6. Gary Lopez and Rudolph Superville, both from Brooklyn were found by firefighters with a plastic substance melted over the surface of their bodies.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Lopez had sustained blunt force trauma to the forehead and right cheek, and gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and right forearm. Superville had sustained gunshot wounds to the neck and left elbow, blunt force trauma to the right eye and back of the head and stab wounds to the back and neck.
Authorities believe that inside Rodriguez’s Grove Street apartment at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, Rodriguez punched and kicked Gary Lopez, as well as striking him with a gun and chair, after Lopez had already been shot and wounded by another individual. They also believe that Lopez had been shot and struck by two other individuals who are still at large.
Allegedly Rodriguez then kicked and then struck Rudolph Superville on the head with a pistol after he had already been shot and wounded by one of the other individuals who had also struck Lopez. At the same time, another man, who remains at large as well, entered the room, brandishing a knife and went after Rudolph Superville.
DA Brown’s office also stated that, between midnight and 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013, Rodriguez went to Newton Creek in Maspeth, Queens, with a bag containing seven firearms and removed each of the weapons from the bag and threw them in the water – including the two firearms that were used by Rodriguez and the three men, ye to be apprehended.
Lopez’ relatives told reporters that on the day of the murder he was carrying $10,000 the day of his murder. He had reportedly sold several watches and a chain in order to get the money to buy a car. The last time anyone saw him was getting into a cab with his girlfriend and Superville.
Lopez was released from prison just short of a year ago and relatives said he had really taken steps to turn his life around including getting a job in construction with his step-father. His sister, Tanisha Michael, told reporters, “He loved his family. He’d lay in my bed, come wake me up, talk to me about anything.”
Lopez has one 6-year-old daughter, Kellis.
Supervile had also been released from prison less than a year ago. He and Lopez had been friends since they went to school together at I.S 296, in Brooklyn.
A family friend, who asked not to be identified said, “No matter what, these boys were good. All of us make mistakes. At least they were together in the end.”
If convicted, Rodriguez faces 25 years to life in prison.
By Patricia Adams
