Police scour for clues after finding man shot to death at Kissena Lake in Queens

Chanteé Lans Image
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 10:27PM
Police scour for clues after finding man dead at Kissena Lake

FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) -- NYPD detectives are combing for clues after a man was found shot and killed in Queens on Monday.

One shell casing was found next to the victim's body, but no weapon was found. It's a mysterious death, inside a quiet park, that NYPD detectives haven't solved yet.

Eyewitness News spoke to the victim's friends, as they hold out hope that an arrest is made.

"Kept to himself. He was not involved in any fights," said a friend of the victim.

Albert Itzkowitz, 75, a husband and father of five from Flushing, Queens, was found dead near Kissena Lake in Kissena Park, in broad daylight just before 5 p.m. on Monday. He was found with a gunshot wound to his neck and back.

His childhood friend is in disbelief.

"He was an amazing person, liked by everyone, beautiful marriage," the friend said.

A police vehicle remained parked outside of his home as detectives were at the scene outside of his temple across the street.

Itzkowitz attended the temple for nearly 40 years. His rabbi's wife learned of the news Monday night.

"He was an amazing person. He was a quiet person, loved by everyone and if anyone needed a favor, he was there," said the rabbi's wife, Helen Oelbuam.

She says his wife passed away three weeks ago from natural causes.

"It was a tragedy in its own and now this," Oelbuam said. "This is really... everyone is numb. We can't believe it's happened. It seems like a dream, a bad dream."

Friends and family have a yearning question for the gunman.

"Why would you snuff out a life of such a loving caring, devoted, religious person that's really beloved by his children, his grandchildren, his community, his rabbi, and all of us... sad," said the victim's friend.

Police have added extra patrols in the park.

So far, there is no motive, suspects or arrests.

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