Elderly NYC crack dealer’s killer staked him out in advance in Tompkins Square Park: DA
A drug-peddling parolee accused of fatally shooting an elderly crack dealer by the chess tables in the East Village’s Tompkins Square Park staked out his target for hours — and changed his clothes several times to cover his trail, prosecutors said Sunday.
Angel Sardina, 63, who’s served multiple prison stints for assault and drug dealing, was ordered held without bail on murder charges for the July 12 killing of Fermin Frito, 74, and the wounding of Edwin “Chunky” Rivera, 44.
Frito was selling crack and heroin near Avenue A and E. Seventh St. inside the troubled East Village park while Rivera steered customers to him, according to police.
In the two hours leading up to the shooting, Sardina and a second man, Rafael Macias, also 63, started planning the 9:49 a.m. hit, Assistant District Attorney Shilpa Kalra said at Sardina’s Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment Saturday.
Video showed the duo meet up near the shooting about 8:25 a.m., Kalra said. Sardina cased the park, speaking to his accomplice on the phone and in person, and minutes before the shooting his partner in crime pointed at the targets, prosecutors said.
Sardina, who allegedly fired the deadly shots, wore a black bucket hat, white surgical face mask, white surgical gloves, blue jeans, black shoes and a dark-colored jacket as he entered the park from E. Seventh St. and Avenue A right before the killing, according to a criminal complaint.
He could be seen removing and adding various pieces of clothing, including a camouflage backpack, throughout the morning to conceal himself, Kalra said.
When police arrived, they found Frito faceup by the chess tables shot in the upper back.
They found the second victim on the ground bleeding from gunshot wounds to his left forearm, bicep and armpit, and left side of his back, repeatedly saying, “Help me!” according to the complaint.
Rivera, who survived the shooting, didn’t cooperate with cops as he went into surgery, police said.
Macias awaits arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Sardina’s lawyer declined to comment Sunday.
