Photo Courtesy of NYPD
Matthew Smith (r.) allegedly socked the victim once after the victim bumped into Smith’s girlfriend, Elena Makarova (l.) on Queens Boulevard in Briarwood.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A borough resident wanted in connection with a June homicide in Briarwood surrendered to authorities this week.
Mathew Smith, 42, on Monday turned himself in at the 75th Precinct stationhouse in East New York. Court records show that he was arraigned on Tuesday in Queens on a single count of misdemeanor assault with intent to cause physical injury. Bail has been set at $10,000 cash or bond.
According to investigators, around midnight on Sunday, June 26, Smith approached Patrick Gorman, 64, at the southeast corner of Main Street and Queens Boulevard and struck him “in the head with a closed fist, causing [Gorman] to fall to the ground.” Smith and girlfriend Elena Makarova, 39, then calmly fled the scene, cops said.
EMS responded to the scene and rushed Gorman to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip; he was later transferred to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead the following day.
The City Medical Examiner ruled Gorman’s death a homicide.
According to published reports, Smith allegedly hit Gorman after he bumped into Makarova. Smith later allegedly bragged about the assault on social media.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Makarova had not been charged. Smith’s next court date has been scheduled for Nov. 22.
