Grandmother knocked out in random Queens attack dies
JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- A grandmother who was randomly punched and knocked out in October outside a Queens deli has died, and charges are expected to be upgraded against the suspect.
Eve Gentillon, 69, died on Friday, making the case a homicide.
"She was bigger than life, she really was," daughter Marie Gentillion said. "She was just bigger than life."
The NYPD said 28-year-old Richard Springer, who also goes by the name "Kwasi," was arrested October 31. He's already facing robbery, harassment and assault charges, but Springer returns to court March 3 for the possibly increased charges.
The incident happened on October 15, when police say Springer walked up to Gentillon outside the Sutphin King Deli on Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica and hit her one time in the in the head.
Surveillance video showed it happen:
Gentillon was knocked out cold after she fell to the sidewalk and was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered she had a brain hemorrhage. She held on four months, but eventually succumbed to her injuries.
Minutes earlier, Springer was caught on surveillance video brawling with workers inside the store during what authorities called an attempted robbery. Police said Springer fled the area, but was later taken to the 103rd Precinct for processing after his arrest.
"This whole incident has really, really messed up everything in my life," Marie Gentillion said. "I really thought she was going to pull through. She opened her eyes. She was moving her body."
Now, the family is planning a funeral for a woman they say was full of life and deserved so much more than this chilling and violent ending.
"She had a lot ahead of her," Marie Gentillion said. "She wanted to do so much."
Springer is being held without bail.
