Slain for cash
Worker ambushed, cops hunt for killers
A MAN FOUND bludgeoned to death in a Manhattan office was apparently targeted by robbers who knew he was carrying a large sum of cash for his employer, a source said Saturday.
Francisco Pinzon-Martinez, 30, was beaten in the head Thursday night inside a third-story office at 3544 Broadway in Washington Heights.
Co-workers found his body just after 1 p.m. Friday, police said. The victim’s shirt was pulled over his head.
The victim worked for the Metro PCS cell phone store on the ground floor of the building, and was attacked after he closed up the shop at 8 p.m. Thursday and toted cash from the business to the office upstairs, a police source said.
Pinzon-Martinez died fighting for his life, the source said.
“He was targeted. It was a robbery, absolutely. They knew his routine, and they followed him up,” the source said.
Police were hunting for two suspects. One was seen on security footage taken inside the building while the second was recorded on the street nearby.
Relatives described Pinzon-Martinez as a hard worker who held three jobs and sent money to his family in Mexico.
“He has two sisters that both became professionals because of him,” said Jose Aquirre, 32, the victim’s cousin.
Aquirre said Pinzon-Martinez was a straight arrow who didn’t even drink or smoke, and police said he had a spotless record.
The cousin said he began worrying about his Pinzon-Martinez when he didn’t show up at his laundermat job Thursday night after closing up the cell phone store. He said Pinzon-Martinez lived with their uncle about a block from the Metro PCS.
“The next morning, his co-worker called to say he didn’t show at the cell store either,” Aquirre said. “We called the police, but not enough time had passed to say he was missing. The police called later to say they found the body.”
Another cousin, Jose Villa, said PinzonMartinez always stayed out of trouble.
“He was a hard worker,” Villa said. “He never looked for any trouble. I know he worked all the time. This is just terrible. It makes no sense.”
Debra Reed, 61, a resident of the building where the slaying occurred, com- plained that security has been lax.
“It’s not safe,” Reed said. “You always have to look over your shoulder. I just feel bad for the young man’s family. It’s sad.”
Another resident, who did not want to be identified, revealed there have been other robberies in the building.
“I’ve had people follow me into the building,” the resident said. “People get in all the time. The neighborhood has gotten better, but the building is not safe at all.”