An incident unfolded in Queens on Thursday night when a 55-year-old man allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife's boyfriend. According to Gothamist, the suspect, Jose Centeno, confronted the victim, Antonio Cantor, 50, outside of his College Point residence around 10:30 p.m. amidst a dispute that escalated to violence. Centeno's wife, who was present during the altercation, witnessed the shooting.
After the confrontation turned deadly, Cantor was struck in the chest and stomach. Emergency Medical Services rushed him to New York-Presbyterian in Queens; however, he was later pronounced dead. The PIX11 report states that the suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored vehicle but turned himself into authorities at the 109th Precinct station house 12 hours later. Centeno has been charged with murder and illegal weapon possession.
The incident is the fourth shooting reported this year within the 109th Precinct, consistent with the precinct’s recent yearly averages but differing from the same period last year, which had no reported shootings. It also aligns with a broader citywide trend, as police data published by Gothamist indicates a nearly 40% increase in domestic violence incidents since the onset of the pandemic.
Authorities have not yet released information regarding legal representation for Jose Centeno. The case remains under investigation and is among several domestic-related incidents currently being tracked by law enforcement.
