‘Ringleader’ arrested in Manhattan gay nightclub robbery spree that left several dead from overdoses – New York Daily News

Cops have arrested a fourth suspect needed for a theft spree focusing on Manhattan homosexual nightclub patrons that led to a string of overdose deaths, police mentioned Tuesday.

Jayqwan Hamilton, 35, surrendered to authorities Monday night time. Costs in opposition to him have been pending.

Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell are anticipated to announce his arrest and the continued investigation at a press convention at police headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

Hamilton is amongst a half-dozen reputed gang members indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on March 23 for homicide, theft, grand larceny and conspiracy within the killings of John Umberger and Julio Ramirez.

Ramirez, a Brooklyn social employee, was discovered unconscious in the back seat of a taxi on the Decrease East Facet early on April 21, 2022, after he’d visited a homosexual nightspot, the Ritz Bar and Lounge on W. forty sixth St.

Umberger, a Washington resident and political guide, was discovered useless June 1 in an Higher East Facet house the place he had been staying. He died after visiting the Q, a homosexual nightclub in Hell’s Kitchen.

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Final month, the town Medical Examiner deemed the deaths of Ramirez, 25, and Umberger, 33, homicides caused by “drug-facilitated thefts.”

The 2 victims are amongst at least seven people who died from overdoses after criminals slipped them medication laced with fentanyl and different lethal medication as they left Manhattan bars and eating places, police mentioned.

Three of Hamilton’s accomplices, Jacob Barroso, Robert DeMaio and Andre Butts were arrested in the last two weeks.

Hamilton is taken into account to be the ringleader of the theft crew and gave the lethal medication to Ramirez and Umberger, police sources mentioned.

The thieves goal the victims as they depart Manhattan bars, providing them both medication or drug-laced cigarettes, in accordance with police. When the victims fall unconscious, the crooks take their cellphones after which use money switch apps to empty out their financial institution accounts.

On March 24, famend Decrease East Facet clothier Kathryn Marie Gallagher, who died July 24, 2022, was added to the list of victims who died from drug overdoses administered to them by thieves.

It’s not clear whether or not Barroso, Hamilton and DeMaio’s crew or members of a separate theft crew have been liable for Gallagher’s dying.