January 27, 1999

LATIN KINGS GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF MURDER AND ASSAULT IN VICIOUS STREET ATTACK

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today the conviction of a 22 year old Corona man, believed to be a member of the Latin Kings gang, on charges of murdering a 27 year old stockbroker and assaulting his brother-in-law in a vicious street attack that took place in April, 1997.

District Attorney Brown said, "This was an unprovoked, senseless attack by the defendant and a group of about 20 of his friends. This brutal crime is made even more tragic by the fact that the surviving victim had come to the United States not long before the murder to escape the war in Bosnia."

District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as David Palacios, 22, of 111-01 39th Avenue, Corona. He was convicted after a two and a half week jury trial of murder and assault. Justice Randall Eng, who presided at the trial, will impose sentence on February 24, 1999. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 33 1/3 years to life in prison.

According to the trial testimony, on Sunday night April 27, 1997, the deceased, Sanin Djukanovic, a Manhattan stockbroker who lived in Queens, and his 26 year old brother-in-law, Edin Kolenovic went to Dunbarton's, a bar on Northern Boulevard and 41st Avenue. They left the bar at about 8:45 pm and walked towards the deceased's black Mercedes Benz which was parked on 41st Avenue. As they approached the car they encountered about 20 men who were hanging around the car. They yelled to the men to get away from the car when the group attacked, hitting, punching and kicking the victims. The defendant and his cohorts, testimony showed, pulled out knives and began stabbing Mr. Kolenovic. Mr. Djukanovic went to his brother in law's aid and was stabbed twice, once in the neck, severing his aorta. The suspects fled into a nearby nightclub, the 30-30 club, which is also on Northern Boulevard. Police officers of the Citywide Street Crime Unit who were surveilling the club saw some of the suspects run into the establishment and heard Mr. Kolenovic's cries for help. They summoned additional officers and an ambulance and took several suspects into custody. The defendant was arrested later that night.

Assistant District Attorney Barry S. Weinrib of the District Attorney's Homicide Trials Bureau, which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Daniel A. Saunders and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Gregory L. Lasak, prosecuted the case.