Francisco Salazar of 48-52 46th St. was killed early Sunday…
By Dustin Brown
Nine people were arrested this week in a violent melee that ended with the death of a 19-year-old Sunnyside man and the slashing of two others outside a neighborhood restaurant, police said.
Francisco Salazar of 48-52 46th St. was killed early Sunday morning by a knife wound to the stomach after a fight broke out at Selenas, a restaurant and bar on 48th Street in Sunnyside, police said. Two of his friends who also were stabbed when they came to his aid were treated at Elmhurst Hospital Center.
Jose Luis Castenada of 47-48 45th St. was charged with second- degree murder in connection with Salazar’s death, police said. He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Queens Criminal Court and ordered held without bail.
Officers from the 108th Precinct also arrested eight others for participating in the melee, police said. They were expected to be arraigned late Tuesday.
Salazar had moved to New York from Mexico about a year ago and was living with six other immigrants in the Sunnyside apartment, Newsday reported. He was employed in the kitchen at a French restaurant in Manhattan’s West Village.
He had gone to Selenas with friends to watch a boxing match, according to Newsday.
But a dispute erupted between his friends and another group over a table in the restaurant around 3 a.m., police said, and the argument eventually spilled out into the street when they left the restaurant. Salazar and his friends were ultimately overpowered when their opponents drew weapons.
“One group brought knives and another group brought fists,” a police source said.
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
