Benny Loria, 17, of Malba, was arrested May 31 by Det. Delvalle Reinaldo of the borough’s Hate Crimes Task Force,…
By Kathianne Boniello
A Malba man was arrested last week and charged in the February beating of a Bayside man outside a Bell Boulevard cafe, police said.
Benny Loria, 17, of Malba, was arrested May 31 by Det. Delvalle Reinaldo of the borough’s Hate Crimes Task Force, Community Affairs Officer Anthony Lombardi said. Loria was charged with several counts of assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, Lombardi said.
Loria was the third person arrested in the beating of George Saint Louis outside the Byzantio Bar and Grill at 45-30 Bell Blvd., on Feb. 24. Capt. Kevin Fitzgerald of the 111th Police Precinct told a group of Bayside civic leaders in March that three to four people were suspected of taking part in the attack, not 10 as originally reported.
Whitestone brothers Angelo and Giuseppe Gigliotti were arrested and charged the night of the incident for allegedly beating Saint Louis around the face and head with a gun outside the bar, the Queens District Attorney’s office said. About $87 and a gold chain were stolen from the victim in the attack, 111th Precinct Community Affairs Officer Santo Elardo said.
Authorities allege that the incident began when one of the Gigliotti brothers intentionally stepped on Saint Louis’ foot inside the club. An argument started, and later, when Saint Louis left the club to buy cigarettes across the street, he was beaten, police said.
A month after the incident, another man was arrested at the Voodoo Lounge on Bell Boulevard, down the street from Byzantio. Police charged him with stabbing three people who were allegedly taunting him with racial remarks. The Voodoo Lounge has since been shut down.
The DA’s office said the Gigliotti brothers were arraigned in criminal court and released on $5,000 bail each on Sunday. DA spokeswoman Mary de Bourbon said the DA’s office had requested $50,000 bail for each suspect.
According to the criminal complaint, the accused attackers allegedly cursed and yelled at the victim while they kicked and punched him. At one point at least one of them screamed at the victim, “What are you doing in our neighborhood?” the complaint says.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
