QUEENS — A 33-year-old man was fatally shot during a robbery in St. Albans Thursday, in what police called a planned heist orchestrated by his girlfriend.
Michael Jonathan, of South Jamaica, was standing with his girlfriend Natasha Mohabeer, 30, at the corner of Fonda Avenue and Mayville Street just before 3 p.m. when they were approached by a man who pulled out a gun and demanded money, police said.
Jonathan was carrying $500 in cash, an amount police sources said his girlfriend knew he'd be carrying at the time.
The two men started fighting over the gun, police said, and during the struggle the attacker shot Jonathan in the stomach. The robber then fled with the cash, police said.
Jonathan was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mohabeer stayed at the scene and claimed not to know the gunman, officials said.
But during the investigation detectives discovered that she had orchestrated the holdup, police said. The details of how she knew the gunman or how the plan unfolded were not immediately available.
Mohabeer was arrested and was expected to be arraigned on charges of murder, robbery and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
"He was set up by this individual that we arrested," said Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce Friday. "She gave a complete statement to us stating her intent that she set this individual up."
Boyce also said that police "have a person of interest we’re seeking out."
"He’s the shooter,” Boyce added.
Mohabeer has at least 7 prior arrests, police said, including for prostitution, bail jumping and assault. The results of those cases were not immediately clear.
The investigation is ongoing.
