WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2005

D.A. BROWN: BROOKLYN MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER OF QUEENS BARBER AT RIDGEWOOD NIGHTCLUB

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for 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 was a tragic incident in which a hardworking family man senselessly lost his life, leaving behind a grief-stricken wife and young daughter. Moreover, the defendant’s actions recklessly endangered public safety. The prison sentence imposed reflects the gravity of the offense.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Jose Cruz, 26, of 1085 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The defendant was convicted last month, 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. He was sentenced yesterday by Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory L. Lasak, who presided at trial.

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.