Press Release

DA KATZ CHARGES CORONA MAN WITH MURDER IN ATTACK ON 22-YEAR-OLD

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Michael Santander has been charged with murder, gang assault and other crimes in the beating death of a 22-year-old man in Corona following a dispute.

District Attorney Katz said: “The life of a young father was cut short in a shockingly brutal attack. As alleged, the defendant kicked and battered one victim causing his death and seriously injured a second. The defendant will be held accountable and we will find the other perpetrators of this heinous assault.”

Santander, 20, of 39th Avenue in Corona, was arraigned Wednesday on a complaint charging him with murder in the second degree, gang assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Judge Marty Lentz ordered the defendant to return to court today. Santander faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted,

According to the complaint, on November 13, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Santander and a group of unapprehended individuals approached 22-year-old Esvin Vasquez at a BP Gas Station on Junction Boulevard near the intersection of 44th Avenue in Corona. Video surveillance footage shows Santander and the others in the group knock Vasquez to the ground and kick him repeatedly in the head and body. Santander also struck Vazquez in the head with a wooden board. The board was also used by Santander on another victim, who sustained multiple broken ribs.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Duane Atkinson of the New York Police Department’s 110th Detective Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Gregory Lasak and Joseph Randazzo of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau are prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter McCormack III and John W. Kosinski, Senior Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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