By Sarina Trangle
Three Queens residents were found dead Saturday when the NYPD received calls about a body floating along the coast of Gantry Plaza State Park, another in a Howard Beach motel room and a third inside a closed Flushing construction site.
The Police Department first dispatched officers to the bank of the East River in Long Island City, near 47th Road and Center Boulevard, at 10:12 a.m., where the NYPD said firefighters pulled Judy Soo Hoo, 51, from the water. Emergency responders pronounced the Astoria resident dead at the scene.
Police said there was no visible sign of trauma on Soo Hoo’s body, which was found recovered fully clothed in a blue jacket and gray pants.
About an hour later, police said they were called to Surfside Motel, at 164-33 Cross Bay Blvd., where a 17-year-old girl was found unconscious with a cut on her chin. Emergency responders pronounced Moe Sakurai, of Forest Hills, dead at the scene.
The NYPD said the teen came to the hotel with two men who were over 18. No foul play was suspected in her death, police said.
At 5:10 p.m., officers said a 33-year-old man’s body was discovered facedown in a Flushing construction site on Cherry Avenue near Robinson Street.
Police said they did not believe foul play killed Yun Zheng, who lived next door to the enclosed site. The NYPD said it did not suspect the incident was an accident.
The medical examiner’s office will make the final determination on what caused the Queens residents’ deaths.
The gruesome discoveries stunned many across the borough.
In Gantry Plaza, several park patrons stopped to watch police as they blocked off part of the coast.
Zac Lochner, who moved to Long Island City in October, said passers-by were out in droves to enjoy the warm and weather and were surprised by the police presence.
“It’s just crazy. It’s the first nice day — fresh air, blue skies, a body washing up on shore,” Lochner said.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
