Crime fell more than 10 percent during a quiet year for police in the 108th Precinct, which covers Sunnyside, Woodside and LIC.
Major crime either remained at 2008 levels or declined with the exception of rapes. The number of rapes jumped a little over 50 percent to 14.
There were 158 robberies through Dec. 27, 2009, compared with 209 during the same period in 2008—a drop of 24 percent. Felony assaults declined to 96 from 111 through Dec. 27, a 14 percent decrease from the previous year. Auto thefts declined to 184 from 210 through Dec. 27, a change of 12 percent from the same period of 2008.
The number of homicides remained the same, with three in both years.
One of the murders occurred in Sunnyside in April, when police discovered the body of Michelle Lee, a 24-year-old NYPD technician. She had been bound to her bed and stabbed repeatedly to death in her 45-23 41st apartment.
Police charged Lee’s ex-boyfriend , 23-year-old Gary McGurk, on suspicion of the murder in May and a grand jury indicted him shortly afterward. McGurk pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Another murder occurred on the border of Sunnyside and Woodside at 9:00 am Saturday, Oct. 24, in front of 45-55 48th Street. Edison Vera, 25, died of a gunshot to the chest at the scene. Gino Florencia was charged.
On Dec. 12 Susan Woolf, a 49-year-old artist, was found with packing tape around her neck and multiple stab wounds in Long Island City. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The police said the investigation was still ongoing.
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4 Comments
Thank’s I put “LIC” in the headline after your comment.
LIC isnt sunnyside.
What was the 3rd murder? I live in sunnyside and thase are the only 2 I knew about as well.
On Dec. 12 Susan Woolf, a 49-year-old artist, was found with packing tape around her neck and multiple stab wounds in Long Island City. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Authorities are searching for Woolf’s boyfriend, 43-year-old Tigran Tambiev.