‘Bright soul’ dies
Shot dead after argument over parking spot
It was his 26th birthday Monday, but the devastated family of Vickram Sewsankar gathered for his funeral instead.
Sewsankar was killed Thursday over a parking spot, shot in the stomach in Long Island City, Queens, during an argument with a BMW driver who had double-parked next to Sewsanker’s vehicle.
A viewing for the young man was held Sunday night; his funeral was set for Monday night.
“It was his birthday today,” his father, Latchman Sewsankar, told the Daily News.
“We were going to cook. He should be here. We were going to invite a lot of family and have a party,” the grieving dad said as he stood outside the family’s home, holding back tears.
Latchman Sewsankar said he loved “everything” about his son.
“I loved him. He was a good kid. He never gave me no trouble,” he said. “I’m not doing too good.”
Sewsankar was sitting in his parked Mercedes-Benz on Borden Ave. near the entrance to the Midtown Tunnel Thursday when the suspect pulled up in a BMW next to him around 6:40 p.m., cops said.
Sewsankar got out of his car, and began arguing with the BMW driver. After a few minutes, the driver sped off, only to turn around and head back toward Sewsankar.
When the driver got close, a fatal bullet was fired from the BMW at Sewsankar, hitting him in the gut, cops said. Medics rushed Sewsankar to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, but he could not be saved.
Cops said Monday they still weren’t clear if it was the BMW driver or another person riding along who pulled the trigger — or even what the driver and Sewsankar were arguing about.
Police are searching for a man in his 30s, sources said. No arrests have been made.
Sewsankar, who worked as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialist, also moonlit as a rapper and R&B producer, his friend Majeed Hosein told the Daily News.
“He loved music,” said Hosein, 26, who has known Sewsankar since their days at Richmond Hill High School. “He was a funny guy, always a bright soul. He would always make people laugh, no matter what. He’s a really good guy trying to become someone.”
“He doesn’t get into trouble,” Hosein added. “He would ... know not to hang out with nonsense like that. He would ... get around and be around people without trouble. Would have expected nothing for him like this.”
Hosein said Sewsankar’s death echoed another tragedy in 2012, when four other Richmond Hill classmates were killed in a car crash on the Southern State Parkway on Long Island.
Sewsankar’s killing hasn’t quite sunk in, he said.
“[He’s] like my brother, we just hang out and chill, we would find a place to eat and just ride around and enjoy the sights.
“Like, we’d always go around Jersey and Long Island and see the sights that can be offered,” Hosein said.
“I saw him not too long ago. I wasn’t there, so I’m still in disbelief. But I guess ...it’ll hit me, [that] ‘ Oh, Vick’s gone.’ ”