By Howard Koplowitz
A 28-year-old Richmond Hill man was stabbed to death last week over an argument about the volume of a television in an apartment he was visiting, the building’s superintendent and the man’s landlord said.
Andy Herrera, 28, of 87-68 125th St. in Richmond Hill, went to apartment 1B at 87-32 123rd St. at around 11:30 p.m. Jan. 19 to see a mechanic who lived there after his aunt’s car broke down, according to Anna Rodriguez, Herrera’s landlord.
The mechanic, Marlon Montalban, invited Herrera to watch a movie in the living room, Rodriguez said.
Luis Zeledon, who lives in the apartment, was awakened by the television and got into an argument with Montalban and Herrera, according to Rodriguez and Jose Bueno, the superintendent of the apartment building.
Police would only say there was an argument in the room, but theyhad notdetermined what the source of the squabble was by late Tuesday.
Herrera picked up a chair in an attempt to thwart Zeledon, but Zeledon allegedly stabbed him once in the chest, killing him, according to police, Bueno and Rodriguez.
He was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Zeledon, 25, was arrested Jan. 20 and charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Queens district attorney’s office.
Montalban suffered a minor cut during the argument, police said.
Rodriguez said the killing of Herrera, a native of Nicaragua, was senseless.
Zeledon “broke up the family for nothing,” Rodriguez said, noting Herrera had a wife, Heidi, 25, and two young children, 4-month-old Jordan and 1-year-old Kiara.
“Andy’s been living here for three years. He’s a nice person,” Rodriguez said. “He cares so much for his kids.”
Herrera worked as a carpet cleaner on Long Island for Rodriguez’s husband. He emigrated to Queens from Nicaragua 10 years ago, Rodriguez said.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
