By The TimesLedger
RICHMOND HILL — A three-alarm fire broke out Sunday morning in Richmond Hill, damaging a commercial building on Jamaica Avenue that contained a laundry service.
The Fire Department said the blaze at 102-57 Jamaica Ave. started about 10:19 a.m. and was brought under control around 11:24 a.m.
Nearly 140 firefighters battled the flames. There were no injuries, the Fire Department said.
Man found dead with gunshot wound
WOODSIDE — A man was found dead in a car Tuesday with a gunshot wound to his head, police said.
The victim, 59, whose name was not released, was discovered at 50-22 43rd St., police said.
An investigation is ongoing, police said.
Police investigate Forest Hills shooting
FOREST HILLS — A man was shot in Forest Hills Saturday morning after a dispute with five or six people, police said.
The victim, 18, whose name was not released, was shot in front of the Rafael Restaurant at 116-33 Queens Blvd., police said. He was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital in stable condition, police said.
No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing, police said.
Random bullet injures man
HOWARD BEACH — A man was shot in the head while driving eastbound on the Belt Parkway Friday night, police said.
The victim, whose name was not released, was hit by a mysterious shooter as he drove toward Cross Bay Boulevard, police said. The bullet entered the man’s car through the front passenger side window, grazed the victim’s head and exited through the driver-side front window, police said.
The victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition with minor injuries, police said. No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.
Zucchini bandit finally released
KEW GARDENS — Woodside’s so-called zucchini bandit who allegedly held up a man with a vegetable stuck beneath his jacket like a gun was set free Tuesday after spending more than six years in prison, according to published reports.
Fulton Guevera, 33, of Woodside, was released by Judge Randall Eng Tuesday. Earlier this month he avoided what would have been his fifth trial for the crime by pleading guilty to attempted robbery in the theft of $20 and a wristwatch from Oscar Leal in Jackson Heights on April 4, 1995.
He was allegedly armed only with a zucchini, which he wielded beneath his jacket, claiming it was a gun.
But following his release, Guevera told reporters he was innocent, insisting he did not rob anyone and had not used a zucchini as a gun, according to published reports.
Elderly Woodside man missing
WOODSIDE — An elderly Woodside man has been reported missing by his family, police said.
Walter Glowacki, 84, of 41-15 60th St., was last seen Jan. 23, police said.
The missing man is white, 5’ 8”, 150 lbs., with white hair and blue eyes, police said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the 108th precinct or the citywide missing persons hotline at 212-374-0319.
Girl hurt in attack by pit bull
SOUTH OZONE PARK — A child was attacked by a pit bull in South Ozone Park Tuesday, police said.
The dog bit a girl, 12, on one of her legs during the incident on 132nd Street, police said. Police said the pit bull was shot in the shoulder after it charged at an officer.
The girl was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital in stable condition, police said. The dog was removed to the ASPCA, police said.
Dean man foundin front of house
RIDGEWOOD — An unidentified male was found unconscious sitting in front of 20-28 Gates Ave. at 4 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
He was removed to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation is ongoing.
Three Queens men charged with defrauding state
FLUSHING — Three Queens men were arrested on charges of defrauding the state workers’ compensation system of thousands of dollars by holding jobs despite claims their injuries prevented them from working, DA Richard Brown said this week.
Gerardo Boniello, 49, of 56-32 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing, is accused of fraudulently collecting $13,180 in workers’ compensation benefits between 1997 and 2000 while working as a cement truck driver after he had claimed a 1990 back injury prevented him from being employed, Brown said.
Roberto Vargas, 37, an automobile dealer technician who lives at 43-05 47th St., Sunnyside, allegedly collected $7,680 for an apparent workplace arm injury in April 2000, but returned to work later that year while still receiving benefits, the DA said.
Francisco Velasco, 51, of 30-49 79th St., Jackson Heights, filed recertification in July 2001 claming he had not been employed since being injured in 1997, Brown said. But he apparently worked for a construction company between 1998 and 2001 and collected $12,235 in benefits during that time, the DA said.
Armed robbers steal cash, laptop
BAYSIDE — An elderly man was assaulted and robbed in Bayside Friday morning by two attackers who threatened him with a gun, police said.
The victim, 69, was walking away from his parked car at 39th Avenue between 210th and 211th streets at about 4 a.m. when the attack occurred, police said. Two men put a gun to the victim’s head and forced him to lie face down on the grass, police said, before robbing him of $60 and a laptop computer.
Police said the attackers fled the scene via 211th Street. The victim was treated at the scene, police said.
No arrests have been made, and an investigation is ongoing, police said.
No cause known in unattended death
FRESH MEADOWS — A man was found dead in his Fresh Meadows home last Thursday, police said.
The victim, whose name was not released, was a first-year resident at St. John’s Medical Center, police said. He was found face down on his bedroom floor, police said, but there were no signs of trauma or forced entry to the 71st Avenue home.
Police said the medical examiner was expected to determine the cause of death.
Queens pair charged in Manhattan stabbing
MANHATTAN — Two southeast Queens men were arrested Saturday after they allegedly stabbed another man while they rode a No. 7 train in Manhattan, police said.
Ossie Rankin, 22, of 219-12 Edgewood Ave., Springfield Gardens, and Shaka Andrews, 20, of 111-52 169th St., Jamaica, were arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault in the incident, police said.
The stabbing occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday while the No. 7 train was at Grand Central station, police said. The victim, who was stabbed in the head, back and hand during the dispute, police said, was taken to Bellevue Hospital in serious condition.
