Man killed at birthday party in NYC: ‘You can hear him pleading’

SOUTH RICHMOND HILL, Queens (PIX11) – A man was heard pleading for his life in a 911 call before he was killed at a birthday party in New York City over the weekend, police said.

Lenner Zuniga, 35, of Queens, was fatally shot and stabbed on Sunday during a birthday gathering in South Richmond Hill, Queens, according to the NYPD. The incident happened around 3 a.m. inside an apartment at 101-66 125th St., police said.

Zuniga and seven or eight other men were at the apartment celebrating a birthday when the violence occurred, police said.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the incident as a robbery that was “possibly narcotics-related.” Zuniga had a reputation of being a cocaine dealer, according to Kenny.

“A fight does break out to where the victim runs and locks himself into a bathroom and calls 911. During the 911 call, you can hear him pleading. You can hear the gunshots,” Kenny said.

Zuniga was shot in his head and torso and also suffered multiple stab wounds, police said. Medics responded to the scene and took Zuniga to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

So far, no arrests have been made.

“As of right now, we do have a strong suspect in the case, but we don’t have probable cause yet,” Kenny said.

The police chief said the apartment where the incident occurred has a history of being “problematic.”

“Apparently the apartment is kind of a flophouse. It’s a hangout location,” Kenny said. “Neighbors are very familiar to it. A lot of young people going there to hang out, loud music, drug usage.”

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org , downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here .

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