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113th Precinct hit by 3-day homicide wave

By Bryan Schwartzman

Three chilling murders within three days have rocked the 113th Precinct, where police moved swiftly to make arrests in each of the cases but are at a loss to explain the wave of violence.

The homicides, which took place last week between Wednesday and Friday, occurred within a half mile of each other in South Jamaica.

“We had a terrible week in the 113th Precinct,” Inspector John McManus told residents at Monday night's 113th Precinct Community Council meeting. “We haven't seen a week like that in quite a long time.”

Lillian Hollingsworth, 74, a popular member of the Allen AME Church Choir, was found stabbed to death inside her home at 115-15 159th St. shortly before 9 a.m. last Wednesday, police said.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said the cause of death was sharp-force injuries to the head and torso with the perforation of a lung and a hemorrhage.

Less than four blocks away on the same day, police found the body of Raymond Collins in his apartment at 117-15 Guy Brewer Blvd. at the Baisley Park Houses, said Detective Vincent Gradelli. Borakove said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head with a perforation of the skull and brain.

Then shortly after 6 a.m. Friday, the body of 24-year-old Louinel Pericles was found by his sister at 115-59 155 St., said Police Officer Valerie St. Rose. Pericles had been tied up and stabbed multiple times, St. Rose said. But Pericles died from a gunshot wound to the head, Borakove said.

McManus said the Hollingsworth and Pericles murders appeared to have stemmed from burglaries, while the Collins homicide may have been domestic in nature.

Police arrested suspects in each of the murders.

“If there is a positive side, it's that each arrest was made in the first 24 hours, ” McManus said. “That just doesn't happen. It happens on television.”

He said he did not have an explanation for the surge in violence since none of the murders appeared to be directly related to the drug trade.

“I'm not saying those arrested have never been arrested for narcotics before,” said McManus, emphasizing that the crimes themselves were not drug-related.

Early last Thursday morning, police arrested Duane Brown, 19, in the murder of Hollingsworth and charged him with murder in the first degree, which would make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted, said Sherry Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Queens district attorney.

After allegedly stabbing Hollingsworth several times until she died, Hunter said Brown took the keys to her 1992 Hyundai and drove to Long Island City with his twin brother Leon. Brown allegedly gave the car to his friend Jay Glover, who lives in the Queens Bridge Housing projects, and then took the subway back to Jamaica.

Police found Glover and Leon Brown driving in the car, which led them to Duane Brown, Hunter said. Glover has been charged with criminal possession of an automobile, while Leon Brown has not been charged with anything.

The murder of Hollingsworth, a prominent member of the Allen AME Church in St. Albans who was a regular at the Allen Senior Community Center on Linden Boulevard, sent shock waves through the community.

“When my wife and I first saw what had happened on television, we almost fell out of our seats,” said Malcolm Smith, a state senate candidate at the 113th Precinct council meeting.

Her friends at the senior center said everyone knew her and the entire place was devastated.

“She was such a devoted person, she was so emotional, so kind,” said Mildred Manning.

Manning said Hollingsworth was a regular bridge player and her partners were concerned when she did not show up for the 11 a.m. game.

“I can't sleep at night. I never knew anybody who was killed like that,” said Louis Graham. She said Hollingsworth's mother was also a regular at the senior center before she died several years ago.

Police arrested James Whitley of South Jamaica and charged him with murder in the second degree in the killing of Raymond Collins. According to the criminal complaint, Whitley allegedly shot Collins with a semi-automatic pistol at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning and then put the pistol in a garbage bag and disposed of it.

McManus said the incident was domestic in nature, but did not elaborate.

Carl Madison, 23, of Jamaica, was arrested and charged with murder in the second degree for allegedly killing Pericles. According to the criminal complaint, Madison entered Pericles' home and demanded money from him, striking him in the back of the head when he refused and then shooting him.

A neighbor described Pericles as an energetic person who lived with his parents and sister. The neighbor, who did not wish to be identified, said Pericles worked at a local barber shop and was attending college in Manhattan.

Each defendant facing murder charges was remanded without bail and was awaiting future court dates.