8 THE QUEENS COURIER • MARCH 28, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Ozone Park bar loses liquor license after cop shooting
BY MARK HALLUM
mhallum@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
RRR Lounge in Ozone Park had its
liquor license suspended by the State
Liquor Authority aft er an offi cer-involved
shooting between Anthony
Vega, 38, and another individual that
led to NYPD offi cers opening fi re and
wounding the suspect.
On March 9, cops arrived at the bar,
located at 87-18 Liberty Ave., just aft er
the 3:50 a.m. alleged dispute between
Vega and another bar patron, as part
of a larger brawl, that escalated into
the former brandishing a pistol outside
the building and opening fi re when an
off -duty bouncer attempted to wrestle
the weapon away, according to the SLA.
“Th e SLA has zero tolerance for bars
where violence is a routine occurrence,
threatening the safety of their neighborhoods
and straining police resources,”
SLA Chair Vincent Bradley said.
“Th is emergency suspension should
serve as a message that this agency will
not hesitate to take immediate action
when a bar poses a threat to public
health and safety.”
Aft er shooting the bouncer in the
foot, Vega allegedly refused orders
from the police to drop the gun and was
summarily shot in the torso and leg, the
SLA. Vega, who was taken to Jamaica
Hospital, faces 10 felony counts regarding
reckless endangerment, intent to
cause physical injury with a weapon
and the top charge of possession of
a loaded fi rearm, according to court
records.
According to Chief of Patrol Rodney
Harrison, three plainclothes offi cers in
an unmarked car who happened to be
passing by as the scene occurred recovered
9mm pistol and a knife from the
scene. Body camera footage is also part
of the investigation into the incident.
Th e SLA already had proceedings
underway to revoke the RRR Lounge’s
license for a Jan. 29 stabbing that led
to an investigating and the conclusion
that the owners were operating disorderly
premises, selling to minors and
creating excessive noise.
Vega was ordered held by Queens
Criminal Court on a $200,000 bond or
$100,000 cash bail and returns to court
on March 25 while the RRR Lounge’s
owner with have the opportunity to
argue his or her case for remaining
allowed to sell alcohol in a hearing with
the authority.
Photo by Robert Stridiron
Crime Scene Unit members investigating the March 9 police involved shooting outside the RRR Lounge in Ozone Park.
One arrest, more coming in Sunnyside rampage: cops
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com
@QNS
Cops have arrested one member of a
trio of crooks responsible for a recent
robbery on a Sunnyside street corner and
a series of violent incidents in Sunnyside
and Long Island City.
Captain Michael Gibbs, commander of
the 108th Precinct, tweeted on March 23
that the 108th Precinct Detective Squad
made the arrest of a man allegedly connected
to the pattern. “Further arrests
are expected,” he added.
According to police, at 10:50 p.m. on
March 9, a 62-year-old man was near
Burger King, located at 40-15 Queens
Blvd., when he was approached by the
three male suspects. Th e terrible trio
then sprayed silly string in the victim’s
face and then proceeded to multiple
times in the head and back with a belt.
Authorities said the assailants fl ed the
scene in an unknown direction. Th e victim
sustained bruising to the head but
refused medical attention at the scene.
Cops said the next incident took place
on March 16. At 2 a.m. that day, a
21-year-old man was spray-painting cars
at the corner of 39th Avenue and 46th
Street when the three approached. Aft er
the victim acknowledged the men, law
enforcement sources noted, the suspects
punched the victim multiple times in the
face before fl eeing; the victim suff ered
lacerations and bruises.
Finally, police said, at 1:20 a.m. on
March 18, a 45-year-old man was walking
to work on Review Avenue in Long
Island City when the trio came up to him
and slashed and stabbed him. Th e assailants
then took the victim’s cellphone,
wallet and backpack before fl eeing in
unknown direction.
Th e victim suff ered multiple lacerations
to his head and back. EMS
responded to the scene and transported
the victim to Elmhurst Hospital Center
in serious but stable condition.
On March 19, the NYPD released
additional video of the suspects:
Photo courtesy of NYPD
h t t p : / / q n s . c o m / w p - c o n t e n t /
uploads/2019/03/692-19-Robbery-108-
Pct-03-11-19-VIDEO2.mp4
Anyone with information in regard
to the identity of these males is asked to
call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,
888-57-PISTA (74782). Th e public can
also submit their tips by logging onto
the Crime Stoppers website on Twitter
@NYPDTips or by texting their tips to
274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All
calls and messages are kept confi dential.
Robert Pozarycki contributed to this
report.
$99 $99 $99 $99 DESIGNER FRAMES
PLUS FREE 2ND PAIR
Frames & Lenses
Offer ends 4/30/19
������������������������������brand clear sphericalLenses/*Contact
lens fitting additional. Not valid for Toric lenses. Not valid with
Some restrictions apply, see store for details.
Offer ends 4/30/19
Select frames with clear plastic, single vision lensas
vision plans or packages. Must present prior to purchase.
see store for details
Offer ends 4/30/19
MARCH SPECIALS
With the purchase of glasses,
contact lens e l.
2 Boxes of Lenses
Encore Premium Brand
$100 OFF
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
vision plans or packages.
Offer ends 4/30/19
No-Line Bifocals Lenses
with Metal Frame
* $200 minimum purchase on first pair of designer
frames. Second pair frame from select group with
vision plans or packages.
Offer ends 4/30/19
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
