QUEENS COUNTY, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment of Kevin Ogara, an Astoria resident, on charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The charges stem from an incident where Ogara allegedly pushed his 60-year-old neighbor, Rene Montalvo Peredo, down a stairwell, leading to fatal injuries.
District Attorney Katz stated that the victim was attacked from behind and was unable to defend himself. The prosecution aims to seek justice for Peredo in court.
Ogara, 58, residing on 44th Street in Astoria, faces first and second-degree manslaughter charges and criminally negligent homicide. If convicted, he could serve up to 25 years in prison. Justice Edwin Novillo has scheduled his court return for March 5, 2024.
The incident, which occurred on November 3 at around 6:51 p.m., was captured on video surveillance. The footage shows a highly intoxicated Peredo entering and quickly leaving Ogara’s apartment. As Peredo walked toward the staircase, Ogara followed and pushed him from behind. First responders found Peredo unresponsive on the stairwell landing. He was hospitalized with a skull fracture, cerebral edema, and a hypoxic brain injury, and succumbed to his injuries three days later.