On a cold January evening in 2015, a hardworking painter from El Salvador named Oscar Alfredo Ventura Granados returned to his Mineola home, unaware that his life was about to be tragically cut short. The 43-year-old father of two had just stepped out of a taxi on Roslyn Road at approximately 9:36 p.m. on Sunday, January 11th, when he was confronted by an unknown assailant. His brother, watching from a window, witnessed the horrifying events unfold as the man demanded money from Granados.
Despite the demand for money, the encounter quickly turned violent, and the suspect fired a fatal shot, striking Granados. The gunman then fled the scene before he could be apprehended, leaving Granados to be pronounced dead just six minutes after the attack. Investigators found Granados's wallet, money, and cellphone still on his person, leading them to believe the motive for the killing was not a simple street robbery.
In the days that followed, the Nassau County Police Department launched an intensive investigation into what they considered a targeted killing. Detectives explored various motives, including the possibility that Granados was targeted for gambling winnings, as his family mentioned he enjoyed visiting casinos. Despite their efforts, which included releasing a composite sketch and surveillance video of the suspect in March 2015, no arrests have ever been made in the case. A reward was offered for any information that could lead to the capture of the person responsible for the death of Oscar Granados, who was remembered by his family as a dedicated worker and a loving father. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his loved ones and the Mineola community.
