The death of a Filipino man in Queens may have been sparked by World Cup fever, authorities said on Wednesday.
The punch that killed Roberto Martires was thrown following a World Cup game Friday, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.
“It looks like it’s revelry after the World Cup,” Boyce said. “There is a fight thereafter.”
Martires and his uncle watched the soccer at Krystal’s Cafe & Pastry Shop, a Filipino restaurant on Roosevelt Ave. in Woodside. He left shortly after midnight on Saturday, cops said.
A man stormed up to Martires while he was outside of the eatery and asked him if he was Filipino, the victim’s friends said. When Martires, who worked as a private chauffeur, said he was, the suspect clocked him, according to the friends.
Martires fell back and smacked his head on the pavement, cops said.He died on Tuesday.
“I can’t believe it happened to such a nice guy,” said Martires’ longtime friend, Sophia Phumalee, 64.
Investigators do not believe the “Filipino” question was ever asked by the attacker, a police source said. “There is no indication that anything was said,” the source said.
The Philippines is not participating in the World Cup.
Martires’ death is not being investigated as a hate crime, Boyce said.
Police are in the initial stages of the investigation and are still looking for the suspect, who was last seen wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, blue jeans, and a white T-shirt.
It was the fourth time this year a person died after being punched and hitting their head on pavement.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said four such deaths “is an unusual number for these type of incidents.”
With Tina Moore
Yahoo Local News – New York Daily News
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