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Crowley prods community to provide tips on Gibbons hit-and-run suspects

Suspect in Gibbons hit-and-run death caught in Connecticut
By Howard Koplowitz

City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) said she is certain someone in the community knows where the man wanted for allegedly killing the owner of a popular Maspeth bar in a hit-and-run accident last month is hiding and urged them to come forward Wednesday.

“There are people in our neighborhood who know where he is,” Crowley said, referring to 36-year-old Peter Rodriguez, who police say allegedly drove the wrong way on the Long Island Expressway near 58th Road and hit a livery cab that Gibbons’ Home bar owner George Gibbons was riding in.

Gibbons was taken to Elmhurst Hospital following the Oct. 15 accident and pronounced dead on arrival.

A $10,000 reward has been posted for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of Rodriguez.

“Things like this aren’t supposed to happen in Maspeth and Middle Village,” Crowley told Community Board 5.

Crowley said Rodriguez is “a danger now more than ever” after the 36-year-old missed a recent parole hearing while on the lam.

The councilwoman said there has been some “discussion” that Rodriguez worked at a local bar.

“He should never have been working in a bar in our community,” she said.

Community residents are planning to go back to the Maspeth Triangle by Grand Avenue and the Long Island Expressway, where they announced the creation of the reward money, at 1 p.m. Sunday to raise awareness about the reward and urge resident to come forward with tips on Rodriguez.

Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 718-260-4573.