The operator of a newsstand on Broadway between 93rd and 94th street was killed on Friday in Elmhurst, Queens. Mukesh Patel, 50, was stabbed to death in the vestibule of the building, police told the Daily News.
“The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was stabbed multiple times in the chest inside the building on Broadway near St. James Ave. in Elmhurst about 3:10 p.m., according to police. He was found lying on the floor of the entryway.”
Reports of the stabbing did not include more details about what precipitated the violence. No one had been arrested for the crime as of Friday evening.
Patel has two children, ages 3 and 7, according to his cousin who was working at the newsstand on Wednesday. After we inquired about making donations, he said that some people had already given money and that the best way to give would be to write a check. Patel’s picture is pasted to the side of the newsstand along with the Daily News article. His funeral was held on Tuesday and some people have put flowers in front of the newsstand.
Update: As of Tuesday September 2, no one had been arrested.
Dana, who told us about this and sent the photo at bottom, said she remembers Patel as “a sweet and gentle man.”
I live in Elmhurst now and there’s a similar little memorial in front of the building where he was killed. It’s a fairly busy section of Elmhurst, where all the restaurants are, and it happened in the middle of the day. I wonder why it seems like hardly anyone saw the person fleeing the scene.
How brutal. Thank you, West Side Rag, for covering this.
Thank you Westsiderag for covering this incident. I have been living in Elmhurst for 15 years never heard of something bizarre like this. Mukesh Patel was killed at 3 PM, at the very busy intersection of the Broadway and Not a single person saw this happening is what i am puzzled about. But thanks to the cameras installed in some private homes on Corona Ave and 90th Street the suspect was seen running away. Hopefully Nypd catches the Suspect and bring justice to Innocent Mukesh Patel and his Family.
I live in Elmhurst and am familiar with the family- this has to be one if the saddest events that has occurred in our close knit neighborhood in a very long time- I hope his killer is caught soon so his family can have some peace-
I work in Elmhurst not far from that intersection. This is very odd and unsettling. i have never seen any violence or crime in the neighborhood.
My condolences to the family. THis is so sad.
I hope WSR keeps us informed with updates to see if the murderer has been caught.