Manhattan youth fatally stabbed in Elmhurst

Two days after the 18-year-old son of a Metropolitan Opera Chorus singer was fatally stabbed in gang-retribution just blocks from Elmhurst Medical Center, police have four members of the Latin Kings gang in custody – one allegedly with their victim’s sneakers – and more arrests expected.
Nicholas Donaldi-Subero was reportedly stabbed once in the chest after he was targeted as a member of the “Always Banging Kings” gang, which goes by the initials “ABK.”
According to reports, a friend of the family said that the confrontation stemmed from the stabbing of a Latin King member near the hospital on Monday, January 19 and “They were out looking for who did it.”
Donaldi-Subero, who lived with his mother, Metropolitan Opera Chorus alto Maria Donaldi on Manhattan’s upper East Side, reportedly left home with two cousins that day to meet a date.
According to police, the four teens were “hanging out” on Ketcham Street in Elmhurst when they were reportedly “swarmed by 10 to 12 teens” just before 6 p.m.
Reports say that Donaldi-Subero denied he was a gang member, but was chased anyway. “Nicki slipped on the ice and they stabbed him,” a family friend reportedly said.
He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he died that night. Donaldi identified her son’s body at the city morgue on Tuesday.
Police sources reportedly initially identified the youth as an ABK member, and said that he had been arrested three times in the last six months.
Friends of the dead youth are quoted as saying that the teen only “hung around with members of ABK.” They said Donaldi-Subero was actually a member of “La Famiglia,” another gang-enemy of the Latin Kings.
In July, Donaldi-Subero was reportedly arrested for smoking marijuana on Judge Street, not far from where he was stabbed. The case was “adjourned in contemplation of dismissal,” if he avoided further trouble.
A month later, he was arrested on a charge of weapons possession when cops in the 110th Precinct chased a group of youths who were observed tossing knives and clubs.
Donaldi-Subero pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in late August and was reportedly discharged.
Reports say that he was arrested for robbery four days before he was killed, but the case “was tossed because of a paperwork snafu.”
“He was the sweetest kid,” his mother was quoted as saying. “I don’t know about gang affiliation. Kids can be sneaky, but I’m the last to know.”
Law enforcement sources told The Courier that the following gang members are under arrest on a variety of charges including Gang Assault.
Ruben “King Faith” Mendoza-Ceballo, 20, is alleged to have wielded the knife and will be charged with second-degree murder.
Martin “King Ace” Arce, 17, who was allegedly found with the dead youth’s sneakers, will be charged with manslaughter and robbery.
Jason “King Hood” Milano, 20, will be charged with manslaughter
Christian “Kid Notorious” Barrera, 17, was allegedly apprehended on the subway in possession of the dead youth’s debit card and will be charged with possession of stolen property and theft of services.
The killing may have expanded an ongoing gang feud and the scope of the violence. Sources are quoted as linking “at least two other gang-retribution shootings” to Donaldi-Subero’s death.