Shooter Who Killed Stranger Near Barclays Center Indicted: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — The man who fatally shot a 47-year-old stranger near the Barclays Center was indicted for murder Wednesday, Brooklyn Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced.

Matthew Passaro, 45, was indicted on murder and weapons charges for the September shooting of Stephen Vargas, 47, of Staten Island, near Atlantic and Fourth avenues, prosecutors said.

"This defendant allegedly executed a completely innocent stranger in the middle of a busy street for no reason at all," Gonzalez said in a statement. "I now intend to hold him accountable for this wanton and senseless killing."

On Sept. 20, Passaro was walking along Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill when he approached Vargas, whom he didn't know, then started yelling at him near 578 Atlantic Ave., authorities said.

Passaro went around the corner, changed his clothes, then went back to where Vargas was standing and shot him multiple times at about 8:20 p.m., prosecutors said.

After the shooting, Passaro fled and avoided authorities for months until he was arrested on Nov. 1 inside the Port Authority Bus Terminal. He was carrying a loaded .45-caliber pistol that was later found to be the gun he shot Vargas with, Gonzalez said.

Passaro was held without bail at his Tuesday arraignment and is scheduled back in court on Feb. 23, 2018, prosecutors said. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Contact information for his lawyer was not immediately available.

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