Upper West Side Murder: Arrest In Death Of Chelsea Club Owner Savyon Zabar

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with the murder of former Chelsea club owner Savyon Zabar, who was found strangled in his Upper West Side apartment last week.

Daquan King, a Bronx resident, has been charged with second-degree murder, police told Patch.

Zabar was found dead Wednesday, Jan. 4 in his apartment at 155 W. 81 St., between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, police said. Authorities were at the apartment for a call of an "aided male." Police said that Zabar showed no signs of trauma but the cause of death has since been ruled strangulation, police told Patch.

Zabar, also known as "Big Ben," was the owner of the popular gay club Escuelita in Chelsea, the Daily News reported. In 2012 Zabar fought the state Liquor Authority, which was trying to take the club's license away after a violent incident at the club, the Daily News reported. Zabar accused the state of trying to kill Escuelita in order to keep minorities and the LGBTQ community out of the area."

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