By Gina Martinez
Two Jamaica men have been charged in the shooting death of a 21-year old South Ozone Park man.
Jonathan Chan, 21, turned himself in Monday morning in the Sunday afternoon shooting death of Eric Assanah, police said. Chan was one of four suspects police were searching for. On Tuesday morning police arrested 21-year-old Shamar Daley. Assanah was shot at 131-37 135th Place at 12:22 p.m. Sunday, police said.. According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Chan and three other suspects made their way into the first-floor bedroom where Assanah was in bed with his girlfriend and allegedly shot him. Assanah was found unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the torso, the back and severe head trauma, police said. EMS pronounced him dead at the location.
“This is another senseless act of gun violence,” Brown said. “The defendant allegedly unlawfully entered the victim’s residence with three other unapprehended individuals, crept into the first-floor bedroom and shot and killed the 21-year-old man. The victim’s girlfriend awoke to see her companion bleeding to death as the four men fled the scene. This was truly a nightmare come true for this young woman.”
According to police, authorities were still searching for the two other suspects.
The dispute was allegedly over money. Chan had threatened to kill Assanah earlier in the day unless he received an undisclosed amount of money, Brown said.
Assanah’s girlfriend allegedly stole money from Chan while at his home and Chan threatened retaliation if the cash was not returned, the Daily News reported.
Chan has nine previous arrests, including criminal mischief and criminal possession of marijuana, police said.
He was charged with second-degree murder, burglary and resisting arrest, the DA said.
If convicted he faces up to 25 years in prison, Brown said.
Daley has been charged with murder and burglary, police said.
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
