Bronx gunman convicted in deadly Queens hotel shooting that left one dead, two wounded
QUEENS, N.Y. — A Bronx man has been convicted of murder and multiple other charges for a violent New Year’s Day shooting that turned a quiet Queens neighborhood into chaos and left one man dead.
Prosecutors say Richard Swygert, 24, opened fire outside the former Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens in the early hours of January 1, 2021, killing 20-year-old Robert Williams and wounding two others after a dispute between groups escalated into gunfire.
Authorities said Swygert fired multiple rounds, striking one victim five times and another six times before fleeing the scene.
Williams was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the two surviving victims required extensive medical treatment, including emergency surgery.
A jury found Swygert guilty of second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges after about two days of deliberation.
He now faces up to 75 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on April 24.
Key Points
- Bronx man convicted in 2021 Queens shooting
- 20-year-old victim killed, two others wounded
- Shooting happened outside Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens
