As Ice Thaws, Body is Found in Snowed in Car

Freezing rain fell on the navy blue BMW that sat on a narrow side street in Astoria, Queens, last week, and the ice-encrusted snow soon concealed its roof and windows hiding the body of a Queens man who evidently died of carbon monoxide poisoning while warming up the car. The tailpipe was likely blocked with snow.

Marcus Yam for The New York Times

People said they walked past the parked BMW, on a corner in Astoria, Queens, for two days without noticing anything odd.

People who live in the neighborhood said they walked past the car, which was parked on 28th Street, for two days without noticing anything odd. At the same time, some friends were concerned over the disappearance on Wednesday of a young Albanian immigrant, Argent Dyryzi, who lived nearby. On Friday, they had fliers printed and went up and down 28th Street, passing the snowbound car at the corner of Newtown Avenue several times.

It was not until Friday night, after the weather had turned slightly warmer and some snow and ice had melted from the car’s windows, that a passer-by could make out a figure slumped over the wheel. It was the body of Mr. Dyryzi.

The BMW belonged to one of the two roommates that Mr. Dyryzi, 31, shared an apartment with a half block away.

The body was frozen with no signs of trauma, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

An autopsy was completed on Saturday. “We need to do further toxicology tests to determine the cause of death,” Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the city medical examiner, said Sunday.

But Romina Perkaj, a friend of Mr. Dyryzi’s, said she had learned from the medical examiner’s office that his organs showed discoloration that could be associated with carbon monoxide poisoning. The law enforcement official confirmed her account.

Ms. Perkaj said she believed that Mr. Dyryzi had died on Wednesday.

Via The New York Times

Woman dies after butt implant procedure

A British tourist who flew to Philadelphia for illegal buttock enhancement surgery has died from medical complications. The woman, who has not been named, reportedly checked into a Hampton Inn hotel to have the back-room procedure. The woman complained of chest pain after she received silicone injections and was taken to a local hospital, where she died early Tuesday morning, according to NBC Philadelphia. The Delaware County medical examiner told the NBC affiliate that the preliminary cause of death is the silicone injected into the woman's vascular system. The victim was one of four women who flew across the Atlantic earlier this month for the posterior-enhancing procedure. They all had traveled to Philadelphia for hotel room appointments for the surgery. The police have not released the name of the party who reserved the rooms at the Hampton Inn or who administered the silicone. Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy.

via The New York Daily News

Party Crasher Kills Woman at Surprise Birthday Party

A young Queens woman was killed by a party crasher who fired shots through a closed door after she helped toss him from the bash Sunday, cops and her family said.

Avalisa Morris, 26, had planned the surprise party in St. Albans for a close friend's birthday. She spent all day Saturday cooking Caribbean food for the special occasion, her stunned family said.

"She was a people pleaser," said her great-uncle, Spencer Grant. "She was in the act of doing something kind and suffered a senseless death."

The man who crashed the party at a two-story home on 119th Road came to see a female guest over a previous dispute, police and Morris' family said.

He was kicked out and had a basement door locked behind him shortly before 4:30a.m. Morris was the one who made sure the party crasher and others involved in the argument didn't get back inside.

"She was at the door, and the people that were fighting went outside," said her cousin, Larrissa Whyte, who was at the party.

"And she closed the door, and she was standing by the door to make sure that they didn't come back in."

Furious over getting the boot, the party crasher ruthlessly fired at least two rounds through the closed door. Morris was hit in the head and the abdomen, police said. She fell to the floor and died.

Whyte, who helped Morris plan the party, was upstairs when the gunfire set off pandemonium in the basement.

"Everybody ran up the stairs to come out the front door," Whyte told the Daily News outside the party as detectives investigated her cousin's murder.

"I was looking for her, and somebody said she got shot. So I went downstairs."

Whyte broke down in tears as she recalled finding her mortally wounded cousin lying on the floor, just inside the basement door.

The killer fled the scene. Police said two people were being questioned at the 113rd Precinct stationhouse early last night.

As detectives worked to catch the killer, Morris' loved ones grieved at a family home in Springfield Gardens, Queens. Grant, Morris' great-uncle, described her as "so friendly and so, so courteous."

"Every time I seen her, it was always a hug and a smile," he said. "I never saw her angry."

Morris worked as a personal banker at a Capitol One branch in Queens. She was born in Jamaica and came to the U.S. a dozen years ago. The party was for a friend who worked at the Macy's in Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, L.I.

"She cooked all day," said Morris' aunt, Audrelyn Anderson, remembering how Morris spent Saturday cooking for the party. She made Caribbean dishes like oxtail, goat, and rice and peas.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/02/06/2011-02-06_woman_shot_at_birthday_bash_by_party_crasher.html#ixzz1DHnu8Kqv

Car falls on Bronx immigrant from West Africa in freak accident

A West African immigrant was crushed to death Saturday in the Bronx in a freak accident while loading a vehicle into a container truck, police said.

Abdul Barry, 49, met the gruesome end as he moved the Toyota pickup - bound for resale on his home continent - into a container hooked up to a truck cab, witnesses said.

The accident happened about 3:45 p.m. at Drake St. and Randall Ave. in Hunts Point.

"His wife just had a baby - his second daughter - one month ago," said his cousin, Issie Barrie, 32, who stood with friends and other relatives in the freezing rain at the accident scene hours after it occurred.

Through tears and choking sobs, Barrie, who lived with her cousin, said, "He's never seen his second child. Now he'll never see her."

Barry was standing inside the container when chains that suspended the truck above him snapped and sent the vehicle crashing down on him, witnesses said.

"He came here to do well for himself and for his family," said friend Ousmane Bah, 43. "He worked seven days a week. He came here for a better life and he worked so hard."

Barry, a former cab driver in Africa, immigrated from West Guinea in 2005, leaving behind his wife and a daughter who is now 11. His second child was born a month ago.

Selling vehicles was one of several ways he supported his family.

He also ran a Bronx storefront where he sold socks and T-shirts.

He last visited his native country three months ago, friends said.

"He was a nice guy, very nice," cried Barrie. "He loved me and he did everything for my children, and in my heart I feel so bad."

Another friend welled up with tears as he viewed the scene of the horrific accident.

"I feel so sorry for him," said Mamadou Sow, 46. "He was an honest man. I'll remember him. I'll remember him as a good man."

Barry was with one of his brothers when the accident occurred.

Hours later, that brother stood in the rain, still stunned and staring at the container truck.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2011/02/06/2011-02-06_crushed_to_death_car_falls_on_him_in_bizarre_bx_accident.html#ixzz1DEnVvhIG