Queens death over cigarette leads to three arrests, more sought

Police have now made three arrests in connection with the death of a Queens man who asked for a cigarette, setting off a chain of events that proved deadly.

After repeatedly requesting a cigarette from a group of men on Liberty Avenue on Nov. 14, Edison Santana, 23, was assaulted by the group and stumbled into traffic where he was struck by a driver who fled the scene but later returned and was arrested, police said.

Now, two of the alleged initial assailants have also been arrested, the Daily News has reported, stating that Meetram Balkaran,18, and Kevin Siriram, 20, both of Queens, were charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault. The report added that the NYPD is seeking the public’s help in identifying the remaining suspects in Santana’s death.

The driver, Emir Zulfiqar, 23, of Brooklyn, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and running a red light, the Daily News added.

Police ask that anyone with information about the attack or the suspects confidentially call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or text their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.