Queens Mugging Victim's Beating Ruled Homicide Years Later: NYPD

QUEENS, NY — More than two years after a man was found dying on an East Elmhurst street, his death was ruled a homicide, police said on Thursday.

Jose Vasquez, 52, was walking two blocks from his home on 32nd Avenue near 101st Street around 4 a.m. on June 8, 2023, when two men crept up from behind and struck him repeatedly, police said.

The random attack left Vasquez with a severe head injury. Hospitalized in critical condition, he clung to life for more than two years before dying on Nov. 27, 2025, police said.

On Thursday, the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide.

Six weeks after the assault, police arrested 18-year-old Jassan Abrams of the Bronx on charges of attempted murder, robbery and assault, officials said.

Abrams, a member of the “5zzly” crew, a Bronx-based subset of the Blood Hounds Brims gang that operates across New York City and Long Island, was ultimately convicted of robbery and is currently serving a prison sentence, records show.

The second suspect remains at large, police added.

No further arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, police said.