THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005

D.A. BROWN: BROOKLYN MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN SHOOTING DEATH OF QUEENS BARBER AT RIDGEWOOD NIGHTCLUB
Faces Up to 48 Years to Life in Prison

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a Brooklyn man has been convicted of murder and other charges in the April 2004 slaying of a 30-year-old barbershop owner killed by a single shot fired at close range into the back of his head. The incident took place at the Metro Lounge, located at 52-35 Metropolitan Avenue.

District Attorney Brown said, “This is a tragic incident in which a hardworking family man senselessly lost his life. I hope his wife, young daughter and the rest of his family find some degree of solace in today’s conviction and in the knowledge that the defendant will be sent to prison for a long time as punishment for his actions.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jose Cruz, 26, of 1085 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. He was convicted, following a 2½ week jury trial, of Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degrees and two counts of Tampering With Physical Evidence.

A jury of six women and six men deliberated for approximately three hours before returning a verdict of guilty yesterday before Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory L. Lasak who set sentencing for November 15, 2005. The defendant faces up to 48 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the trial testimony, the defendant fired one shot from close range into the back of the victim’s head with a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The victim, identified as Anderson Pizarro, of Howard Beach, and the owner of 360 Cuts, a barbershop on Gates Avenue in Ridgewood, died about one-half hour later at Elmhurst Hospital Center.

After the fatal attack, the defendant disposed of physical evidence of the crime, including his sports jersey, and discarded the gun by throwing it off the Pulaski Bridge.

Assistant District Attorney Peter V. Lomp of the District Attorney’s Homicide Trials Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jack Warsawsky, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Charles A. Testagrossa and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.