Family of Mauro Chimbay, Queens man killed in hit-and-run, wants justice as police search for suspects
NEW YORK -- The family of Mauro Chimbay, a Queens man killed in a hit-and-run, wants justice as police continue searching for two suspects.
Police said Chimbay was playing volleyball at Gorman Playground in East Elmhurst at around 3 p.m. Wednesday when he saw a man breaking into his car by the corner of 25th Avenue and 85th Street.
"People are playing in the park and then out of nowhere you just hear mad people screaming, and then someone is dead right there. Two seconds. It's crazy to be honest," said Wilson Acosta, who lives near the scene.
According to investigators, Chimbay tried to stop the man, who jumped into a BMW with a box from Chimbay's car. Police said Chimbay was thrown from the vehicle and died from severe head trauma.
"Right there, there was a big SUV and he just crashed into it. He was trying to hold the door, trying to get whatever they stole from him," said Acosta. "When the incident happened, he just literally hit the vehicle and then flipped."
In Spanish, Chimbay's brother told us the married father of two was sociable and funny. He became a U.S. citizen after immigrating from Ecuador almost 30 years ago and worked in restaurants and construction.
Chimbay's wife Majore Monserrate was in tears when she told us her husband was a great father and didn't deserve this. She said she didn't know what was in the box or why her husband wanted it back so badly.
According to NYPD, auto crime is up citywide. So far in 2023, 13,840 vehicles, including trucks and motorcycles, have been reported stolen.
There were 297 auto thefts in the East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and North Corona sections so far this year, compared to 273 last year, according to the latest crime stats data.
Police returned to the scene Thursday to speak with witnesses and view more surveillance video.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.