By Howard Koplowitz
The brother of murdered Pomonok resident Guimmia Villia placed a single rose Friday by a makeshift memorial filled with candles outside Crescent Chemists, where Villia was fatally shot in the head, police said.
Villia’s brother, who did not identify himself or take questions, wept uncontrollably, banging his hands against the rolled down gate of Crescent Chemists in agony.
Villia, 32, of Pomonok, was found unconscious and unresponsive by police with a gunshot wound to her head inside Crescent Chemists at 24-12 34th Ave. in Astoria, police said.
A preliminary police investigation uncovered that Villia was involved in a conversation with 38-year-old suspect Alex Figueroa, of 14-01 36th Ave. in Queensbridge, when Figueroa shot her before fleeing the scene, police said.
Figueroa then shot himself in the head in his apartment, police said.
The NYPD’s public information arm would only say that Villia and Figueroa knew each other, but the New York Post reported they were husband and wife.
The public information arm also said it could not confirm whether Figueroa gave Villia flowers before shooting the woman or if Figueroa had been arrested for assaulting Villia in the past, which had also been reported.
The 114th Precinct could also not be reached to confirm the reports.
Customers of Crescent Chemists who attempted to get prescriptions filled Friday saw the business’ steel gate pulled down along with a news story of the murder and a small memorial with candles.
A customer who asked to be identified by her first name — Carol — said Villia treated patrons like family.
“There wasn’t a time when she was upset. There’s no time that goes by where there’s not a smile on her face,” Carol said. “It’s a shock. It really is. She was such a sweetheart.”
“There couldn’t be better people in the world then them,” customer Shery Valentino said of the staff. “The whole place is gorgeous.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
