By Stephen Stirling
Authorities said police responded to a 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and found Marcos Escobar, 37, of Corona on the floor of the kitchen of Pio Pio bleeding profusely from multiple stab wounds to his torso. Escobar was taken from the restaurant to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition, but died from his wounds the next day, according to authorities.Police arrested 23-year-old Josue Susano of East Elmhurst shortly after the incident. Authorities said it appeared amid an argument at the restaurant, Susano allegedly attacked Escobar, mortally wounding him.Susano was arraigned Jan. 5 in front of Queens Criminal Court Judge William Harrington, who ordered him held without bail, the Queens district attorney's office said. Susanos' next court date is Jan. 18. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.The families of Susano and Escobar could not be reached for comment. The Spanish-language paper El Diario reported Escobar was a Mexican immigrant whose wife and three children still lived in Mexico. Family members said Escobar was planning to return to Mexico in the next few months, the paper said.Residents who live nearby the restaurant, located at 84-15 Northern Blvd., said they were surprised to hear about the incident. Carmela Rodriguez, a Corona resident, said the restaurant has good food and is expensive, but is one of the more popular eateries in the area. “You hear about this sort of thing happening around here, but never in a nice place like that. It's weird,” Rodriguez said. Workers at Pio Pio declined to comment about the incident. The restaurant failed to return phone messages by press time Tuesday.Jeremy Walsh contributed to this article.Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
