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Man Kills Pregnant Girlfriend, Commits Suicide At The Times Square Hotel
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 22, 2015
Modified Jan 22, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 22, 2015
Modified Jan 22, 2015
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An apparent murder-suicide took place in the lobby of a Times Square building last night. Police say a man fatally shot his girlfriend, and then himself at The Times Square Hotel, located at 255 West 43rd Street.
According to police, they responded to a 911 call just after 9:45 p.m. and found Brandi Quijano, 26, shot in the leg and torso, while a 29-year-old man was found with an "apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head." Both Quijano and the suspected shooter, Herbert Gaines, were pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
Quijano lived in an apartment at The Times Square Hotel, which is operated by Common Group, an organization that houses homeless individuals and families. According to its website, the 652 units are occupied by "low-income and formerly homeless adults, persons with serious mental illness, and persons living with HIV/AIDS."
The Daily News reports: "Gaines was apparently waiting for Quijano to arrive at the hotel and attacked her as she was showing her identification to get through a guarded turnstile in the lobby, sources said."
One longtime resident, Anthony Mack, told the News, "There was a whole lot of gun shots ... in rapid succession. She was laying on her back bleeding. He shot himself in the head, blood was everywhere... I’ve seen so much here, it’s just another horror."
Police are reportedly believe that Gaines drove to the area to find Quijano and are looking for his vehicle.
Tagged
fatal shooting
murder-suicide
Times Square
Times Square Hotel
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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