Quantcast

Man arrested for murder of jeweler

By Kathianne Boniello

Anthony Garcia, 25, of 53-01 Junction Blvd. in Elmhurst, attempted to escape police by racing down a fire escape at about 3 a.m. Friday, authorities said. Garcia, who was charged with murder and robbery in the shooting death of Fausto Rodriguez, was arrested in Sunnyside, the Queens district attorney said.

DA Richard Brown said the 5-foot-10-inch, 210-pound Garcia was also being charged with four separate armed robberies around the borough in the past month. If found guilty, he faces up to 25 years in prison for each robbery and also could get an additional 15 years in jail for the Aug. 29 burglary of a home in Flushing.

As a teenager Garcia was convicted of robbery and served six years in jail. He was released from a state prison in December 1998 and was on parole until 2001, authorities said.

In a statement, Brown said