Corona Man Charged With Murder After Killing Man With Wooden Board: DA

QUEENS – A 20-year-old man from Queens was charged with murder after he fatally beat a man in Corona with a wooden board, the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Friday.

Michael Santander, from Corona, was charged with murder and gang assault after he and other men attacked Esvin Vasquez, 22, at a BP gas station on Nov. 13 about 2 a.m., and Santander later fatally beat Vasquez, prosecutors said.

Santander faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted, Katz said.

Last month, Santander and several men attacked Vasquez to the ground and started kicking him at the station on Junction Boulevard near the intersection of 44th Avenue, the district attorney said.

Santander then beat Vazquez in the head with a wooden board, prosecutors said.

After the men fled, Vasquez was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst, where he was pronounced dead, according to the police.

Santander is scheduled to return to court on Friday, Katz said.