Danyl Lawson, Jason Banrey, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer
Jan. 30, 2013 By Bill Parry
Four days after the police had released sketches identifying the likely perpetrators of Lou Rispoli’s murder, his widower was hitting the pavement asking the public if they could identify the suspects.
Danyal Lawson, who was married to Rispoli, went to the 40th St. subway station Tuesday afternoon and handed out fliers bearing sketches of two men wanted for questioning.
The sketches were released by the NYPD on Friday but had not been posted in any of the local stores, public areas or subway stations.
Lawson was joined by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and his staff. “We printed these fliers and we’re handing them out at all three area subway stations,” Van Bramer said.
“I would have liked for the NYPD to have had these posters printed and plastered all over the neighborhood by now,” Van Bramer said. “We can’t afford to lose any more time in this investigation.”
The commanding officer of the 108th precinct, Deputy Inspector Donald Powers, said that it takes a lot longer to print posters than to electronically send the sketches out to the media. “The NYPD prints them [the posters] alongside everything else in the whole police department,” adding that “they should be ready by midday Wednesday.”
Rispoli was attacked outside the residential building at 41-00 43rd Ave. on October 20th and died five days later. Powers has conceded that the police could have moved more swiftly shortly after the incident was reported—since it took 36 hours before a crime scene vehicle showed up.
“It’s imperative that we take these brutal murderers off the street,” Van Bramer said. He added that his staff was trying to get a mobile Crimestoppers unit to come to Sunnyside and help disseminate the information.
Tuesday was a transformative moment for Lawson, Rispoli’s partner for over 32 years. Since the murder he has let his friends do the talking for his family. His only public appearance was at a candlelight vigil in November and when he spoke to the crowd his voice was barely above a whisper.
Yesterday, Lawson said he did not recognize the faces in the NYPD sketches and was surprised that he had not been re-interviewed by detectives.
Lawson said he was saddened that mistakes were made when the investigation was launched but hopes the NYPD doesn’t give up.
“I’m very happy that there’s been this development [the sketches],” said Lawson. “They took away a wonderful man’s life and I hope they’re caught so they don’t do this to someone else.”
“Lou’s 63rd birthday would’ve been this Friday,” Lawson said.
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3 Comments
This is such a sad story. I hope the victim’s loved ones can find some justice.
Hate to be a nitpick but a man who has lost his spouse is a widower.
If they have a sketch then presumably somebody must have seen the murderers and have some info that might give us an idea of the circumstances surrounding this horrific crime.