By Howard Koplowitz
Authorities said an unidentified black man entered Richatlantic Gold and Silver Exchange at 118-20 Atlantic Ave. and shot 40-year-old Richard Schoenfeld in the face, killing him. Schoenfeld, who lived on Hewlett Ave. in Merrick, L.I., was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. Authorities described the suspect as a 6-foot, 250-pound black man in his 20s wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and black pants. There were no arrests in the case as of late Friday and the investigation into the murder was ongoing, according to authorities. Schoenfeld was known as a man with expensive tastes both in Richmond Hill and the upscale Long Island suburb of Merrick, where one neighbor said his cars were considered outrageous even in the upper-class community.”He went beyond,” said the Hewlett Avenue resident, who said Schoenfeld owned “a yellow Ferrari, black Bentley and a G500 Mercedes.” He said the flamboyant pawn shop owner was in the midst of renovating his home.An employee of an accounting business two storefronts down from the Atlantic Avenue pawn shop who only wanted to be identified by his last name, Singh, said he did not know Schoenfeld well but noticed that he would drive a Mercedes and Jaguar G-Type to work. He said Schoenfeld would come into the business to make copies and faxes.Alex Kimgarov, 35, a barber at Hugo's Hairstylist on Lefferts Boulevard by the corner of Atlantic Avenue, said Schoenfeld would often come into the shop to take a shave.”We know him like a good person. He was a very decent guy. A good person and good customer,” Kimgarov said.Schoenfeld's lavish gray-stucco home featured reddish stones shaped into a diamond in the driveway and two large concrete columns on each side of the intricate stained glass-patterned front door.The house appeared to be unoccupied Friday afternoon; inside was a small white ladder and buckets of paint. There were no cars in the driveway.Police are urging anyone with information on who killed Schoenfeld to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173
