Police: Mauro Chimbay killed in hit-and-run in Queens; 2 sought
NEW YORK -- An attempted robbery in Queens led to a deadly hit-and-run Wednesday.
It happened around 3:30 p.m. at 25th Avenue and 85th Street in East Elmhurst. The victim has been identified as 43-year-old Mauro Chimbay, of Queens.
Kevin Gonzelez was playing volleyball with Chimbay in the park along 85th Street when he says Chimbay noticed someone breaking into his car parked across the way.
"They broke the window of the car, and then they tried to go away with something from the vehicle," Gonzelez said.
He says Chimbay tried to stop that person, but a white BMW pulled up and the alleged thief got in, so Chimbay grabbed on to the hood.
"He was hanging on to the hood of the car, and then he just stopped and when he stopped, he hit himself against the rim of the car over there," Gonzelez said.
Watch Ali Bauman's report
In Spanish, witness Betania Reyes told us, "I saw the white car speed and then heard a bang. I saw him on the floor bleeding and convulsing like he was dying."
"We tried to help him as much as we could, but he was in very bad condition," Gonzelez said.
Chimbay was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
Residents want to know what emboldened a thief to break into the car in the middle of the day.
"It's very surprising 'cause most of the time, the people that are here, it's a very tight community so most of us, we all know each other, so things like this don't really occur around here," Gonzelez said.
Gonzelez says the victim is known and loved in their local volleyball community.
Police are still looking for two suspects and have not made any arrests. It's unclear what, if anything, they got from Chimbay's car.
Read more: Family of Mauro Chimbay wants justice as police search for suspects
