CORONA — The reward to help solve the brutal murder of a pregnant mom — who was gunned down in front of her LeFrak City apartment — has been tripled to $6,000 with donations from a local politician and the building's management company, officials announced Friday.
Brandee-Anastasia Massey, 27, was shot to death at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 26 in the 15th floor hallway of 98-15 Horace Harding Expressway.
Police sources say investigators want to talk to her ex-con uncle because she had information about a domestic violence case he was involved in.
Her baby died hours after doctors at Elmhurst Hospital delivered her, officials said.
The NYPD offered a $2,000 reward for information about the suspect, and on Friday Sen. Jose Peralta announced an additional $2,000, which was then matched by the LeFrak City management company, bringing the total to $6,000.
"There are now 6,000 reasons why someone who knows anything should come forward," he said.
Peralta also announced plans to start a fund for Massey's four children, who still don't know their mother was gunned down the day before Thanksgiving, he said.
Their father, Joseph Massey, told the senator he didn't know how to explain the murder to their kids, between the ages of 4 and 9.
The family spent two nights — including Thanksgiving — in a local hotel, paid for by Sen. Peralta and City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, to get away from the crime scene, he said.
"There are no words to even begin to explain what type of savage would do such a thing," he said. "I hope when this individual is caught he is charged with double murder, because Brandee's child was born alive."
Sources say the victim was a witness in a domestic violence case against her uncle, and detectives want to talk to him.
A source also said Massey had an order of protection against the uncle, who served three years on a weapons charge and two years after pleading guilty in a 2003 drug bust, according to Department of Correction records and the Queens District Attorney's office.
The uncle also used to live in the building, according to family friend Norma Cooksey, 77.
The LeFrak City building didn't have security cameras, and tape was over locks on the doors, allowing them to stay open, according to tenant advocate Jim Galloway, who runs the Lefrak City Tenant's League.
"This could have been avoided," he said. "We have to realldy beef up security. Do we have adaquete security in LeFrak City? Absolutely not."
The murder has left residents of the massive apartment complex — which houses 12,000 people in 20 buildings — anxious, according to resident Shawn Williams.
"Every time I'm getting in the elevator I'm thinking, 'this could be the guy,'" she said.
LeFrak City had no comment on its security measures.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
