By Joe Anuta and Christina Santucci
A father of two was shot and killed just after sunset on an East Elmhurst street Saturday, just four days after another man, police said.
At 5:45 p.m., police responded to a 911 call and found George Portillo, 31, shot in the torso a block from his house, at 30-16 94th St., according to the NYPD.
EMS also responded to the scene and took Portillo to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, the Police Department said.
As of press time Tuesday evening, no arrests had been made.
Portillo, also known as “Rent,” worked at a music production company called Ondablock Productions, but was planning to open his own printing and graphic design company Tuesday, according to his little brother, who did not want to be named.
“He was a role model,” his brother said. “He had a big heart and was a caring father.”
Portillo was born and raised in Corona and moved to East Elmhurst about 10 years ago.
He was married to Madeley Salazar and left behind two children, his 3-year-old son Brandon and 8-month-old daughter Georgina, who are too young to know what happened to their father.
Portillo was just days away from opening a business he called Media Vision Print, according to a website for the new company.
But Portillo’s brother said he does not know what will become of the business after the Saturday shooting.
Portillo was filming something for a production when the shooting occurred, according to his brother.
He said Portillo was shot in the back and probably knew the person who pulled the trigger.
Neighbors said they heard arguing near a landscaped triangle between 30th and 31st avenues and 96th Street, and then three shots. This could not be confirmed with the NYPD by press time.
After Portillo was hit, witnesses said he walked west toward his house. He collapsed on the corner of 95th Street and 31st Avenue, according to witnesses, which is where officers found him after arriving on the scene.
Eyewitnesses said a man fled the area after the shots rang out.
Neighbors said crime has increased in the last five years and blamed some incidents on nearby bars.
Earlier in the week, a 25-year-old man died after being assaulted by a group of men in front of his Corona apartment, according to police.
On Jan. 31, police responded to a call of an unconscious male at 111-08 38th Ave.
When officers arrived, they found Armando Tucubal with trauma to his head, and EMS later pronounced him dead at the scene.
Tucubal was originally from Guatemala and did not have any family in New York, according to his roommate, 21-year-old Carlos Solis.
Tucubal worked overnight, Solis said, and would sometimes engage in drunken bouts with others.
“Sometimes when they drink alcohol, he goes on to fighting,” Solis said with help from a neighbor who translated.
Solis lived in the apartment with Tucubal and four other men for the past month.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
