A man with a history of drug dealing was brutally murdered during a robbery at a birthday party in Queens over the weekend, according to police reports. The victim, identified as 35-year-old Lenner Zuniga, was shot three times and stabbed eight times in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident took place in a second-floor apartment located on 125th Street near 103rd Avenue in South Richmond Hill.
Zuniga, who had a record of 49 previous arrests, was known to law enforcement for his involvement in drug and firearm offenses. He was also recognized as an emotionally disturbed individual. Following the violent attack, Zuniga was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny addressed the media on Tuesday, suggesting that the incident was likely a robbery with potential links to narcotics. He described the apartment where the crime occurred as a “flophouse” and a popular hangout spot. On the night of the incident, Zuniga and several other men were gathered there to celebrate a birthday.
According to Kenny, a fight broke out during the party, leading Zuniga to lock himself in the bathroom and dial 911. The distressing call captured Zuniga’s pleas for help, the sound of gunshots, and the subsequent robbery of his cellphone. Investigators suspect that both money and drugs were taken from the scene.
The resident of the apartment, who had briefly left to visit a store, returned to find everyone gone except for the critically injured Zuniga. A neighbor living on the first floor of the building, Alexander Wilson, reported hearing a gunshot and screams, followed by the sound of people fleeing the building.
Wilson, who was awakened by the commotion, saw Zuniga being carried out on a stretcher. He noted that Zuniga did not reside in the building and that he had never seen him before. The apartment, according to Kenny, has a reputation for being a trouble spot in the neighborhood, known for loud music and drug use.
While a strong person of interest has been identified in connection with Zuniga’s murder, there is currently insufficient evidence to make an arrest, Kenny stated. Investigators recovered three 9mm shell casings and two live rounds from the crime scene.