Slay victim had passion for cars, dream of becoming pilot
The 24-year-old Salem man gunned down while delivering food in Lynn Monday was remembered as a tireless worker with a penchant for muscle cars and dreams to one day be a pilot.
“I would say he probably rented 100 cars a year. ... We were going to rent him a Lamborghini for his birthday,” said a man who identified himself as Ryan, brother-in-law of the victim Sina Zangiband. Zangiband would have turned 25 next week, shattered loved ones said.
Zangiband’s best friend since high school, Marven wiped tears from his eyes yesterday trying to understand how his high school pal, and colleague at Atha’s Pizza in Lynn, was no longer alive.
“He’s a brother, not even a best friend,” Marven said. “When we’re not at work, we’re at my house. Whatever we do, we do together. ... I’m going to miss him being by my side.”
Marven and Ryan — who requested anonymity — explained how Zangiband moved to Massachusetts at age 13 from Iran and is a 2010 graduate of Lynn Classical High School.
He loved renting cars like Camaros and Corvettes, and during the past few years had logged hundreds of hours in the clouds while in aviation school in Florida trying to earn a pilot’s license, they said. He moved to Salem last year to be closer to his family, they added.
Zangiband was fatally shot shortly before 6 p.m. Monday while delivering food near his restaurant gig, authorities said. He worked 60 hours per week at the pizza parlor, Ryan said.
Brian Brito, 21, of Manchester, N.H., is a “person of interest” in Zangiband’s murder. Brito is also a suspect in the alleged Monday night rape of a woman in North Andover.
Gene Constantino, principal at Lynn Classical High School, fondly remembered his ex-pupil as an English Language Learner’s student who quickly graduated into the regular curriculum.
“One thing about students from other countries, they want to learn English — they want to work hard,” Constantino said. “This is a tragedy for the school.”