New York police have arrested one man and are seeking four others on charges they killed two Brooklyn men whose bodies were found in the remnants of a brush fire in Howard Beach last week, officials said.
Retaliation for a planned drug ripoff appears to be the motive for the killing of Rudy Superville, 22, and Gary Lopez, 25, who were found shot, stabbed and beaten to death in the undeveloped Spring Creek Park last Thursday morning, said NYPD spokesman Paul Browne.
Arrested last night was Rogelio Rodriguez, 34, of 143 Grove St. in Brooklyn, the NYPD said in a release. He was charged with murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal tampering, police said.
Browne said five men were lying in wait for Lopez and Superville at Rodriguez's residence in Bushwick, where cocaine was believed to be stashed. Both victims were armed and had planned to steal the drugs at the building but had the tables turned on them when they entered the dwelling separately, Browne said. He didn't elaborate on how the suspects had learned Lopez and Superville wanted to rob the location.
Superville was shot and stabbed and ultimately bled to death, Browne said, adding that Lopez was shot and had evidence of blunt trauma to his head.
The bodies of both men were then dumped in the park area, in a spot near 159th Avenue and 78th Street. Police said the bodies appear to have been wrapped in black trash bags. Surveillance video images captured three cars speeding away from the area about the time a brush fire was noticed. Police didn't say and were not available later to comment on whether the videos were used in making the arrest.
Copyright 2013 - Newsday
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
