By Phil Corso
Police were investigating an apparent murder-suicide that occurred early Thursday afternoon, leaving two men dead at the Hilton Garden Inn at 148-18 134th St. outside John F. Kennedy Airport.
According to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, two unidentified white men in their 30s were sitting at a table meeting with several others in a small room off the hotel lobby when one stood up and shot another with an unknown firearm before turning the weapon on himself.
Brown said no arrests were made, but witnesses said they saw police apprehend four men at the scene.
One hotel worker said he noticed eight suspicious men meeting in a café near the lobby before hearing the shots. Seconds before the first shot was fired, the worker said one of the men had asked where the bathroom was and left the room.
“It was as if he knew,” the worker said. “Something suspicious was going on.”
A photo of the scene showed what appeared to be the murder victim lying face-up in a pool of blood with the apparent shooter hunched over a nearby chair after the DA said he used the gun to shoot himself.
The worker said police arrived soon afterwards and arrested four of the men as they attempted to flee.
Ramon Sterling, 42, was on his way home after working his shift at the nearby Do & Co catering at 149-32 132nd St. when he saw the four men on the ground in handcuffs. He said they appeared to be in their mid-30s and looked like they were European.
Brown said police were investigating the cause of the shooting and the four men’s relationship with the gunman and his apparent victim.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
