You are reading

Shooting victim in Astoria Park was a friend of alleged killer, according to District Attorney

gavelFeb. 2, 2015 By Christian Murray

The Queens District Attorney’s office has filed charges against Alexander Bonich, who allegedly shot and killed his friend in Astoria Park Saturday.

Bonich is accused of killing William Klinger, an Italian immigrant, who was found dead in Astoria Park at about 2:30 pm Saturday from a gunshot to the head.

The two men got into an argument and Klinger walked away, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. At that pointed Bonich allegedly told Klinger to stop. When he didn’t, Bonich allegedly shot him once in the head. After Klinger fell to the ground, Bonich shot him one more time.

The district attorney’s office alleges that Bonich got rid of his own clothing, as well as the weapon, ammunition and spent shells.

Bonich , who lives at 25-66 42nd Street in Astoria, has been charged him with 2nd degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. He faces up to 25 years to life. Bonich is currently in custody, pending arraignment.

“The defendant is accused of taking the life of a friend who was seeking his help in starting a new life in this country,” said District Attorney Richard A Brown.”This case is another unfortunate example of the senseless gun violence that seems to more and more permeate our society.”

State Sen. Mike Gianaris spoke with the 114th Precinct, which informed him that the two men were having a business dispute before the murder.

“I was shocked to hear about the shooting in Astoria Park,” Gianaris said. “This incident was an aberration in what continues to be one of New York City’s safest neighborhoods.”

Gianaris praised the 114th Precinct for its speed in arresting the alleged killer.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

NY Hall of Science debuts CityWorks, its largest exhibition in over a decade

The New York Hall of Science in Corona opened its largest interactive exhibition in more than a decade on Saturday, May 3. The exhibition explores the often invisible inner workings of the built urban environment.

CityWorks is housed in a 6,000 square foot gallery, and the exhibit was created by a team of NYCSI exhibit developers, researchers, and educators over the past five years. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the intricate systems and engineering that enable cities to function, including how they break, evolve, and endure.

Twenty people indicted in Queens-based $4.6M vehicle theft ring after three-year probe: DA

Twenty individuals were indicted and variously charged in a wide-ranging scheme to steal cars in Queens, throughout New York City and its suburbs, following a three-year investigation by the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the NYPD, and the New York State Police dubbed “Operation Hellcat,” into the criminal enterprise based in Queens.

Some of the vehicles were stolen from owners’ driveways, some with the keys or key fobs inside. The stolen vehicles were often sold through advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. The defendants are charged in nine separate indictments for a total of 373 counts, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Thursday.