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Police Hunt For Armed, Allegedly Unmedicated Queens Carjacker
By
Lauren Evans
Published May 9, 2013
Modified May 9, 2013
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By
Lauren Evans
Published May 9, 2013
Modified May 9, 2013
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A Long Island City man who this morning allegedly stole three cars from their drivers at gunpoint—and tried unsuccessfully to steal two more—remains on the loose, police say.
According to an NYPD release, the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Nicolas Almonte, first snatched a 2006 Mercedes at gunpoint in Hunter's Point around 9:37 a.m., reportedly driving its owner around for "several minutes" before she escaped unharmed near Queens Plaza.
Almonte allegedly ditched the Mercedes around 10:01 a.m. and went for a 2006 Ford Econoline van, but failed to make a successful getaway. Police said he then made off with a 2007 Lexus E350 after threatening its owner with a weapon, but abandoned that vehicle, too. The Goldilocks of carjacking allegedly went on to demand the car keys of a woman walking her dog near 50th Avenue and 39th Street. The woman told Almonte that she didn't have any keys, and he fled.
At 10:20 a.m., police say a truck driver was approached by an armed man fitting Almonte's description near 38th Street and Hunter's Point Avenue, who stole an unknown amount of money from the victim before running away. Ten minutes later, a man near 39th Street and Greenpoint Avenue told police that Almonte approached him at gunpoint and drove off with 1996 Gold Mercedes C280, which has not been recovered. Almonte was reportedly last seen driving toward the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge.
Michael Stacey, 47, who worked with Almonte at the scaffolding company Swing Staging, told the Post Almonte has mental issues but is "normal" as long as he's medicated.
“But when he’s off his meds he goes off the wall. He gets a little kooky. Sometimes he’ll get loud or throw a tantrum, Stacey told the tabloid. "But his outbursts have never been this crazy."
Tagged
carjacking
long island city
queens
Lauren Evans
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