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Howard Beach man shot in Ridgewood dance club

By Matthew Monks

Anderson Pizarro, 27, of 156-46 79th St., was shot once in the head while dancing at the Metrolounge on Metropolitan Avenue in Ridgewood at 3:25 a.m., police said.

He was pronounced dead just over an hour later at 4:30 a.m. at Elmhurst Hospital, police said. As of Wednesday, they said no arrests had been made and an investigation was underway. According to News the club's owners had turned over surveillance tapes.

Pizarro, who owned the Ridgewood barbershop 360 Cuts, was married for six years and had a 6-year-old daughter. His widow, Jennifer Pizarro, 28, told Newsday that she and her husband spent Friday night together having dinner and watching television.

The couple, who had been together since high school, spent the evening having dinner and watching television before he went out with friends to the popular dance club at 52-35 Metropolitan Ave.

Shots rang out at about 3:25 a.m. when Pizarro left his friends to go to the bathroom, Newsday reported. The gunman was apparently trying to fire his weapon in the air to celebrate something, but police did not know what, the newspaper said.

The dance club features different music each night ranging from hip-hop to reggae and has dollar drinks for women on Friday and Saturday night.

His widow told The Daily News that she was angry that club security had not properly patted customers down.

The family said it would issue a statement on the shooting later this week.

The Metrolounge did not return phone calls for comment.

Victor Ortiz, the manager of the Family Barbershop at 851 Wyckoff Ave. in Ridgewood, is an old friend and former employee of Pizarro's.

He said he was shocked to learn of his death, and that Pizarro was a harworking and trustworthy man. He enjoyed working for Ortiz and described him as a good boss.

Reach reporter Matthew Monks by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.