Man Fatally Shot During Attempted Jewelry Robbery Outside Queens Strip Club
Authorities say a masked assailant approached the victim outside the Riviera Gentleman's Club and opened fire after attempting to steal his jewelry.
A 49-year-old man was fatally shot during a botched jewelry robbery outside a strip club in Astoria, Queens, early Thursday morning, according to police and sources.
The incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. in front of the Riviera Gentleman's Club at Steinway Street and 35th Avenue. Authorities reported that a masked individual approached the victim from behind and attempted to steal his jewelry.
During the confrontation, the assailant discharged a firearm, striking the victim in the back. The victim was transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police have not yet identified the deceased.
The suspect, described as wearing a black mask, fled the scene in a white vehicle without obtaining any property. As of several hours after the shooting, no arrests had been made, and authorities were continuing their investigation.
It is unclear if the victim had been a patron of the club at the time of the incident. This location has been the site of previous violence; in February 2018, two men were shot during a brawl outside the same establishment in the early morning hours. In that instance, a firearm was produced during an escalating fight, resulting in one victim being shot in the torso and another in the ankle. Both individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries.