Police have a suspect in custody in connection with the murder of a 30-year-old Howard Beach man who was shot to death in his apartment on Tuesday night.
Joseph Amatuccio, 34, of 151st Avenue who was apprehended at the scene, was charged with second-degree murder and weapons possession for allegedly killing Christopher Cognato, 30, who resided on 102nd Street in Howard Beach.
Sources familiar with the investigation told QNS the shooting was the result of a dispute between the two men over a sum of money.
Law enforcement sources said the shooting took place some time before 6:25 p.m. on Nov. 22 inside Amatuccio’s apartment on 151st Avenue in the Lindenwood section of the neighborhood.
Officers from the 106th Precinct and EMS units responded to the location after receiving a 911 call about the shooting. Upon arrival, they found Cognato unconscious and unresponsive with gunshot wounds to his arm, neck and chest.
Paramedics rushed Cognato to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival; his identity was withheld by police pending family notification.
Amatuccio was ordered held without bail following his arraignment on Nov. 23, according to court records.
