NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Queens man was indicted for the killing of his neighbor after he allegedly shoved the 60-year-old man down their building stairs, causing fatal injuries, the Queens District Attorney’s Office said.
Kevin Ogara, 58, was indicted on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in relation to the shove.
The investigation into the death of Rene Montalvo Peredo turned into a homicide probe a little over a month after he was allegedly pushed down the communal stairs in his and the defendant's Astoria residence, located at 28-04 44th Street.
According to the charges and video surveillance footage, Peredo, who appeared to be highly intoxicated, returned to his building at 6:51 p.m. on Nov. 3 and entered the defendant’s fourth-floor unlocked apartment which was directly above his own.
Peredo immediately exited the apartment, followed by Ogara, who pushed him, prosecutors said.
The men were in discussion when Peredo turned his back and the defendant who lifted his hands, followed Peredo to the top of the stairs and pushed him, the district attorney’s office said.
Emergency responders found the victim unresponsive on the stairwell landing and he was taken to Mount Sinai Queens Hospital with a skull fracture, cerebral edema and hypoxic brain injury.
Peredo succumbed to his injuries three days later, dying on Nov. 6.
“We will argue that the victim was walking away from the defendant when he was ruthlessly shoved down a flight of stairs to his death. Attacked from behind, the victim was unable to defend himself. We will be standing up for him in court and seeking justice on his behalf,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.
If convicted, Ogara faces up to 25 years in prison. He was ordered to return to court on March 5.