Hunt killers of immigrant in Astoria

A young Mexican immigrant was slain on a busy Astoria train platform over Labor Day weekend, and now police are searching for several men seen fleeing from the scene.
As of Tuesday, September 4, no one had been arrested for the homicide of 19-year-old Jose Sierra, a resident of the south Bronx.
Police said that at about 1:15 on Monday, September 3, Sierra was gunned down at the N-train station, at the corner of 31st Street and Broadway. He was found with a single gunshot wound to the head, and there was no apparent motive for the killing.
Witnesses told police that either four or five Hispanic men quickly fled down the subway steps and onto the street. Meanwhile, Sierra stumbled from the southbound train platform before collapsing in front of a stunned token booth clerk.
At the time, Labor Day revelers crowded the train station, which is normally quiet during the early hours of Monday mornings.
The brazen shooting shocked community leaders, including Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, whose office is about 10 blocks away.
“Any time something, a violent crime, occurs in the neighborhood, it’s a source of great concern for me. However I hope people realize that this is an aberration in this neighborhood, which is a very safe, family-oriented place to live,” Gianaris said, adding, “I have confidence in the men and women of the 114th Precinct, that they will find the people responsible and bring them to justice.”
According to published reports, Sierra emigrated from Puebla, Mexico three years ago and worked long hours as a kitchen helper in a Greek restaurant, near where he was killed.
Gianaris said that the backbone of the neighborhood’s workforce has historically been comprised of immigrants like Sierra.
“This community has always been one that has thrived on the energy of immigrants,” Gianaris said.
Gianaris said that he has been in contact with the police department and has asked for increased security in the area after the incident. However, he repeated his belief that the homicide was an irregular incident.
“I think it will be proven to be something very out of the ordinary,” he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.