By Gina Martinez
COLLEGE POINT – Police have deemed the June death of a 21-year-old man in College Point a homicide.
Jean Villanueva was found seriously injured by officers on 14th Avenue and College Point Boulevard on Jun. 15., police said. He was lying on the ground unconscious and unresponsive with head trauma, police said. Villanueva had been in a fight near the handball court of the park by 14th Avenue, according to police.
He was taken to New York Hospital of Queens in critical condition. Villanueva was brain dead and remained on life support until he succumbed to his injuries Sept. 9, according to police.
On Dec. 21 the medical examiner determined Villanueva’s death was a homicide. There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.
According to NYC Parks Advocates, police have identified a “person of interest,” a 23-year old man who has not been arrested. This person has 15 prior arrests for assault, disorderly conduct and marijuana possession and is actively on probation for a drug charge until 2020, the parks group said.
Anyone with information regarding the case or the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
