By Sarina Trangle
Police arrested two men Wednesday in the fatal beating of a 55-year-old Richmond Hill man believed to have been sparked by a spat over car keys in a nearby club, the NYPD said.
The Police Department said Carlos Genno, 22, and Nestor Rodriguez, 20, allegedly attacked Nazmul Islam, 55, early July 9, knocking him onto the sidewalk near 76nd Street and Atlantic Avenue.
After Islam lost consciousness, the two allegedly rifled through his pockets and left with an unknown amount of cash, according to the NYPD.
Police had been called to the Ozone Park street corner at 4:34 a.m., where the NYPD said Islam was found unconscious and unresponsive.
Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
The NYPD said it later learned Genno, of Ozone Park, and Rodriguez, of Woodhaven, had gotten into a verbal argument with Islam earlier July 9, while all three were at Flirt, an Ozone Park venue that bills itself as a gentleman’s club on Twitter.
Officers said Islam could not find his keys and questioned Genno and Rodriguez about the keys’ whereabouts, sparking a verbal spat.
Cops believe the duo grew agitated and then allegedly physically assaulted Islam about a block away from Flirt.
Both men were arrested Wednesday and charged with murder and robbery, police said.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
