Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
UWS Man Who Helped In Sandy Recovery Fatally Shot In Astoria
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 3, 2013
Modified Feb 3, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 3, 2013
Modified Feb 3, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An Upper West Side man who helped with recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy was fatally shot in Queens yesterday. Police say that Francisco Leal, 27, was approached by two men at 21st Street and 41st Avenue in Astoria, in his old neighborhood, around 9:40 p.m. on Saturday. Relatives told that Post that Leal pulled a liquor bottle from his bag as if to defend himself, and one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him once in the chest. "No more guns, please," his mother, Milagros Ortega, told them. "I don't want it. I'm not supposed to bury my child at the age of 27, a month shy of his 28th birthday, because of the guns of New York. It needs to stop."
Leal was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Leal had previously been arrested for burglary, assault and witness intimidation in Queens; after he was paroled in November, his mother said he has been employed ever since through FEMA working on demolition inside storm-damaged Bellevue Hospital.
Police say no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. Leal's mother added that he was a rapper, and the family thinks the shooter may have been a rival, or someone trying to settle an old score.
Tagged
astoria
fatal shooting
francisco leal
hurricane sandy
police
queens
Upper West Side
uws
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC extends program offering late-night soccer games at 5 parks
The city will let the lights stay on until 2 a.m. at one park in each borough through the end of November.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 12:39 p.m. ET
Two Legionnaires’ disease cases appear at a Queens housing complex. Here’s what we know.
Health officials advised that older or immunocompromised residents should avoid taking showers until the investigation is complete.
By
Joe Hong
News
Two Legionnaires’ disease cases appear at a Queens housing complex. Here’s what we know.
Health officials advised that older or immunocompromised residents should avoid taking showers until the investigation is complete.
By
Joe Hong
Cyclist dies in Central Park after crashing into off-leash dog, NYPD says
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Early Addition: Do any of you get off at the 3rd Avenue L train stop?
By
James Ramsay
The American Chestnut tree returns to the Bronx Zoo after more than a century
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .