Queens killer claimed victim was a witch before gunning her down in broad daylight
QUEENS, NY – A Howard Beach man who claimed a tarot card reader had cursed him was sentenced to 23 years in prison for shooting the woman dead in the doorway of her Ozone Park home in broad daylight, Queens prosecutors announced.
Giuseppe Canzani, 45, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in September for the fatal May 2022 shooting of 51-year-old Anna Torres. Canzani told police he believed Torres was a witch who had placed a curse on him and that he acted to prevent harm to his family.
On May 4, 2022, around 2:26 p.m., Canzani knocked on the door of Torres’ residence on 109th Avenue. When she answered, he shot her in the neck and arm, then fled in a Chevrolet Traverse. She was pronounced dead minutes later when police arrived at the scene.
Roughly an hour after the killing, Canzani drove to the 106th Precinct station house, placed a loaded silver .45-caliber handgun on the ground, and confessed to officers: “I want to turn myself in, I’m not here to hurt you guys. I’m here because of the woman I shot.”
Investigators say the shooting was unprovoked and fueled by delusional beliefs. The attack occurred in broad daylight, sending nearby pedestrians running as gunfire echoed through the residential block.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder handed down the sentence, which includes five years of post-release supervision. District Attorney Melinda Katz called the act “senseless” and said the sentencing marks a step forward for the victim’s family.
Torres was known in the Ozone Park community as a tarot card reader. Her killing shocked neighbors and left a lasting impact on the area.
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Key Points
- Giuseppe Canzani, 45, was sentenced to 23 years for the fatal 2022 shooting of Anna Torres
- Canzani told police he believed Torres was a witch who cursed him
- The victim was shot in her doorway in broad daylight and died at the scene