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The shooting took place outside of the 5 de Mayo bodega in Jackson Heights.
By Forum Staff
A Corona man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted at trial of killing a man in a bodega in Jackson Heights in March 2018, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday.
Fabian DeJesus-Garcia, 32, was found guilty of murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and unlawful possession of pistol ammunition following a trial in March. Queens Supreme Court Justice Michelle Johnson, who presided at trial, sentenced this defendant Friday to 25 years to life in prison.
Photo Courtesy Google
“This was an execution in a busy commercial area with the defendants ambushing the victim,” DA Katz said.
A second defendant, Gamaliel Desiderio-Sanchez, also 32, of the Bronx, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March and has been sentenced to 18 years in prison to be followed by five years’ post-release supervision.
According to court records, on March 22, 2018, the two defendants went to the 5 de Mayo Deli on
Roosevelt Avenue around 8 p.m. Desiderio-Sanchez handed DeJesus-Garcia a .32-caliber pistol upon arriving at the bodega. When Seferino Flores-Pineda arrived at 5 de Mayo, Desiderio-Sanchez engaged him in conversation. As the two talked, DeJesus-Garcia approached the 31-year-old victim from behind and shot him three times. Flores-Pineda was shot in the face and chest.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died from the injuries.
“This was an execution in a busy commercial area with the defendants ambushing the victim. While one distracted the target, the other walked up from behind and shot him without provocation,” Katz said. “My Office will not stand for brazen acts of violence on the streets of Queens.”
