By Alex Christodoulides
Authorities said Willie McEntire, 51, of Kew Gardens Hills, was intoxicated the night of Jan. 12 when he was punched in the face by another man at about 10:20 p.m. as he was leaving his building on the 150th Street block of 72nd Drive in Kew Gardens Hills. McEntire hit his head when he fell to the pavement, authorities said.When police arrived at the scene, McEntire refused medical treatment and declined to file a report, authorities said. The responding officers took his information and filed a report anyway, and Emergency Medical Services took him to Queens Hospital Center, where his condition took a turn for the worse, police said. He was evaluated and found to have injuries that required treatment at a trauma center, so McEntire was rushed to Elmhurst General Hospital, where his condition began to deteriorate and he was placed on life support, police said.When McEntire's condition did not improve, his family opted to take him off life support, and he died Jan. 16, police said.The medical examiner could not be reached for comment on McEntire's cause of death.His case, which had initially been classified as an assault, has been upgraded to a homicide.Reach reporter Alex Christodoulides by e-mail at achristodoulides@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
