By Howard Koplowitz
A man who worked at a Manhattan nightclub where a Woodhaven woman was last seen Monday has confessed to killing her with a metal pipe, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Thursday.
Syed Rahman, 24, allegedly admitted to the murder after 24-year-old Ingrid Rivera’s body was discovered around 5 p.m. Wednesday in an electrical closet on the fifth floor of the Spotilight Live Club in Times Square, Kelly said.
Rivera, of 74-32 90th Ave. in Woodhaven, was at the club Monday during a birthday party for the rapper Lil’ Kim that drew more than 500 patrons, Kelly said.
He said bouncers ejected Rivera from the club after she “inadvertently went into the men’s room.” She had been drinking, according to Kelly.
Rahman, who works as a bartender’s assistant at the club, allegedly saw Rivera getting ejected and said he could get her back into the club.
He then allegedly got Rivera back in through an employee entrance and struck her in the back in the head with a 2 1/2-foot metal pipe, Kelly said, citing statements Rahman made to police.
The commissioner said 20 minutes before Rivera was murdered, Rivera’s friend was looking for her and was told by Rahman that she could be found in the penthouse.
But instead of taking Rivera’s friend there, Kelly said, Rahman allegedly took her to the fifth floor rooftop, where he made sexual advances towards her.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
