Man beaten to death after livery cab mix-up in Long Island City

LONG ISLAND CITY (WABC) -- An innocent mistake and an argument escalated to murder in Queens.

A man got into a car he thought was a livery cab and ended up dead.

Jose Cocuyo-Malago was beaten to death on the side of the road and his family is in shock.

There was a somber song in Queens Friday night, where dozens remembered 32-year-old Jose Cocuyo-Malaga.

The Astoria man was beaten to death near 50th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, just feet away from the 108th precinct in Long Island City.

Police say it happened during an argument with a group of men. Apparently he thought he was getting into a livery cab, but it was just someone's car.

Rufina Martinez, the victim's wife, says she hasn't told their 8-year-old daughter that her father is not coming home.

Malaga was an avid runner who earned dozens of trophies; he also had a passion for cooking, gaining notoriety in Latino newspapers.

Saul Cocuyo says his brother was very easy going; a hard worker who avoided problems with people.

He just can't understand how in the world this happened.