A 38-year-old Staten Island woman was found shot to death inside a single-family home in St. Albans, Queens, and police are now hunting the man they believe pulled the trigger following an argument. Angelique Apostol was discovered around 2 p.m. on June 24 inside the home near 205th Street and 113th Road, and investigators have identified 55-year-old Mark Washington as her suspected killer.
Apostol, who cops said lived in the Clifton section of Staten Island, died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to an autopsy, as reported by the New York Daily News. The New York City Medical Examiner has ruled her death a homicide. Washington and Apostol were known to each other, and the nature of their relationship was not immediately clear, though law enforcement sources told the paper that investigators believe Washington shot Apostol after the two got into an argument.
The NYPD has released images of Washington and is asking the public for help tracking him down, per the same account. Anyone with information is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, and all calls will be kept confidential.
A Reward and a Well-Worn Tip Line
Beyond the confidential hotline, tipsters could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,500 through the NYPD Crime Stoppers Program if information leads to Washington's arrest and indictment, according to the NYPD. The program is funded through private donations to the New York City Police Foundation specifically to protect tipster anonymity, and it has helped solve more than 1,400 homicides since it launched in 1983.
The St. Albans home where Apostol's body was found falls within the jurisdiction of the NYPD's 113th Precinct, which covers South Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis, South Ozone Park, and Rochdale from its base on Baisley Boulevard in Jamaica, according to city records. Midyear 2026 CompStat figures showed major crime in the precinct rose 22.4% compared to the same period last year, an increase of 124 reported incidents, per data reviewed by Vital City.
Community Alerts Spread the Search
Public safety flyers began circulating on social media in late August, urging residents in both Staten Island and Queens to report any sightings of Washington, with community posts identifying the victim by her middle name, Sasha. The flyers, shared in local Facebook groups, reflect how neighbors on both sides of the boroughs have tried to help spread the search beyond official channels.
A Citywide Pattern Behind the Search
Apostol's death adds to a troubling citywide trend: intimate partner homicides in New York City rose 10% in 2024, according to data from the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Domestic violence statistics have stayed elevated even as broader violent street crime has fallen in the years since the pandemic. An annual report from the New York City Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee found that more than 60% of intimate partner homicide victims citywide had no prior contact with law enforcement, courts, or social service agencies before they were killed, according to the Urban Resource Institute. Advocates cited in that report have stressed the need for community outreach beyond policing to reach isolated individuals before violence turns fatal.
Survivors or family members seeking confidential help in Queens can turn to the Queens Family Justice Center, one of five regional centers the city operates under the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Established in July 2008, the center brings legal, social, and safety-planning services together under one roof, according to city data.
What Washington Could Face if Caught
If arrested, Washington would face second-degree murder charges under New York Penal Law § 125.25, which classifies intentionally causing another person's death as a Class A-I felony carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison, according to the New York State Senate. No charges have been filed against Washington, who remains at large as police continue their search.
