In the quiet neighborhood of College Point, Queens, a story of jealousy and revenge culminated in a horrific act of violence on January 7, 1995. On that day, a 30-year-old man, identified in most online sources as Alex Gayasto, was among six people brutally murdered in an apartment. The particularly violent nature of the crime, involving shootings, stabbings, and strangulations, sent shockwaves through the community.
The tragic events were set in motion by a personal conflict between
Alex and a man named Saul Cuba Angulo. Reports indicate that the animosity stemmed from a dispute over a woman named Esparansa, with whom Alex was in a relationship. Tensions had escalated to the point where Alex had allegedly threatened Cuba with a gun, warning him to stay away from Esparansa. This simmering feud would ultimately lead to a meticulously planned and shockingly violent home invasion.
On that fateful January evening, Saul Cuba Angulo, along with his uncle Enrique Rodriguez and a third man, Richard Assasi, forced their way into the College Point apartment where Alex and Esparansa lived. Inside, they found a gathering of friends and family. The intruders, armed and intent on violence, proceeded to tie up the occupants. Alex Gayasto and his cousin, Pablo Loay, were both shot and killed. The other victims of the massacre were Carla Lopez, her mother Esparansa, and Melinda Winds.
The brutality of the attack was underscored by the use of both firearms and knives. The scene discovered by police was one of unimaginable horror, with the victims having been subjected to a methodical and merciless assault. The motivation appeared to be a deadly combination of a personal vendetta and robbery.
In the aftermath of the gruesome discovery, a massive police investigation was launched. A crucial breakthrough in the case came from a lone survivor who, despite being gravely injured, was able to provide a harrowing account of the events and identify the assailants. Her testimony proved to be pivotal in the prosecution of the three men. Richard Assasi, Saul Cuba Angulo, and Enrique Rodriguez were all apprehended and subsequently convicted for their roles in the massacre. They were each sentenced to 170 years in prison, ensuring that they would not be able to inflict such violence on the community again. Richard Assasi and Saul Cuba Angulo later died in prison.
