Detectives arrested a second individual in connection with a murder at a Jackson Heights grocery store earlier this month.
Fabian DeJesus-Garcia, 28, of Corona faces murder and weapons possession charges in connection with the March 22 murder of Saferino Flores Pineda, 31, of Jackson Heights inside the 5 de Mayo shop located at 81-06 Roosevelt Ave. Law enforcement sources reported that the shooting may be connected to gang activity.
According to a criminal complaint that the Queens District Attorney’s office provided, Gamaliel Desiderio-Sanchez, 28, of the Bronx allegedly provided a handgun to DeJesus-Garcia before the shooting, which occurred at about 8:15 p.m. on March 22 inside of the grocery store at 81-06 Roosevelt Ave.
Law enforcement sources allege that Desiderio-Sanchez engaged Pineda in conversation when Flores-Garcia approached from behind and shot Pineda three times. The two men then fled the scene.
Officers from the 110th Precinct and EMS units rushed to the scene. Paramedics brought Pineda to Elmhurst Hospital, where he died.
The 110th Precinct Detective Squad tracked down Desiderio-Sanchez on March 26 and charged him for his role in the homicide. He is currently being held without bail.
Detectives charged DeJesus-Garcia during the early morning hours of March 30; his arraignment information was not immediately available.
“Last Thursday one of our resident (sic) was shot dead inside of a deli on 82 Street and Roosevelt Ave.,” Captain Nicola Ventre, commander of the 110th Precinct, announced on the precinct’s Twitter account on March 30. “Because of the great work of our detectives @NYPDDetectives and our Joint Task Force, both individuals who are responsible are now in custody.”
