Dispute Between Cousins Ends in Tragedy
Two cousins in Queens, embroiled in a dispute over the sale of a house, were found dead in what authorities suspect was a murder-suicide, according to police sources and family members.
Officers arrived at a residence on 116th Road in Jamaica late Friday night following reports of gunfire. They discovered a 37-year-old man and his 41-year-old cousin dead, both with gunshot wounds to the head.
These cousins reportedly grew up together. An uncle, who resides in the home’s basement, mentioned, “It’s about selling the house and a disagreement over how to split the money.”
The younger cousin, referred to as Prince, was declared dead at the scene, while Antoine, the elder cousin, was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with a gunshot wound.
Family members indicated that Prince had gone to the house to assist Antoine with the sale. It was noted that Antoine had given Prince power of attorney, trusting him because of his knowledge of the real estate market. However, tensions arose when discussions about the sale turned contentious.
Concern grew for Prince’s well-being when his wife noticed he hadn’t responded to her calls or texts, and he failed to pick up their children from school. This, as her uncle explained, led her to use a tracking app on her phone, which indicated that Prince’s location hadn’t changed in two hours.
She called 911 for a wellness check twice but, neighbors mentioned, officers were unable to gain entry initially.
“She mentioned she had GPS on her phone, which was pinging from that location,” recounted a neighbor about the wife’s concerns.
Eventually, the uncle let the wife in, and she found her husband deceased near the front door. Her uncle recounted the moment, saying, “I unlocked the door. As she turned on the light, she saw Prince’s body. He wasn’t moving, and she began to scream.”
In a panic, the uncle recalled telling her, “I have to get out of here; he could still be inside.” Just then, they heard a gunshot from upstairs, further escalating the fear.
When the NYPD emergency services arrived, they located Antoine in a bedroom, holding a handgun and suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
