The alleged gunman who fatally shot the 51-year-old mother of an NYPD officer inside her Ozone Park home on Wednesday afternoon surrendered himself at the 106th Precinct shortly after the shooting, according to Deputy Chief Jerry O’Sullivan, the commanding officer of the Queens Borough South Detective Squad.
Police from the 106th Precinct answered a 911 call regarding the shooting at 94-59 109th Ave., one block east of Cross Bay Boulevard just before 2:30 p.m. on May 4. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Anna Torres inside the two-story brick home unconscious and unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds.
EMS responded to the crime scene and pronounced her dead, the spokesman said. A preliminary investigation determined that 41-year-old Giuseppe Canzani, of Howard Beach, walked up to the house and knocked on the door. When Torres opened the door, Canzani allegedly fired three shots, hitting her twice, and drove off in a black Chevy Traverse.
A short time later, the vehicle pulled up in front of the 106th Precinct and Canzani pulled out a loaded Taurus .45 caliber handgun and placed it on the sidewalk, O’Sullivan explained at a Wednesday night press conference at the crime scene.
Two officers cuffed Canzani and brought him inside for questioning, according to O’Sullivan. The suspect lives in a home on 88th Street near 162nd Avenue in Howard Beach, five blocks east of Spring Creek Park, according to the NYPD.
WATCH as NYPD executives provide an update into today's shooting in the confines of the @nypd106pct. https://t.co/LgGC7IOqLb
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 5, 2022
“Now, I can tell you that the individual that was apprehended is going to be charged with murder in the second degree and possession of a firearm,” O’Sullivan said. “It is confirmed the victim has a son who is a member of the police department. There is no reason to believe whatsoever that this incident occurred as a result of his employment with the police department.”
O’Sullivan added there were two family members inside the home at the time of the shooting, but could not elaborate further. Homicide detectives are working to determine the relationship between the suspect and the victim, as well as the motive behind the fatal shooting.
The investigation is ongoing.
