Chelsea Club Owner Found Strangled in Upper West Apartment: Police

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The NYPD said Friday that a man was found dead in an Upper West Side apartment, and his death is believed to be a homicide.

The man, 54-year-old Savyon Zabar — who police initially, and incorrectly, identified as Zabary Savyon — was found dead Wednesday night at his apartment at 155 W. 81 St., between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, police said. Authorities were at the apartment for a call of an "aided male." Police said that Zabar showed no signs of trauma but the cause of death has since been ruled strangulation, police told Patch.

No suspects have been named in Zabar's murder, an NYPD spokeswoman told Patch.

Zabar, also known as "Big Ben," was the owner of the popular gay club Escuelita in Chelsea, the Daily News reported. In 2012 Zabar fought the state Liquor Authority, which was trying to take the club's license away after a violent incident at the club, the Daily News reported. Zabar accused the state of trying to kill Escuelita in order to keep minorities and the LGBTQ community out of the area."

"Minorities are no longer welcome on W. 39th St., as they do not fit into the gentrification plans of the city," Zabar said at the time.

Friends took to social media to mourn Zabar after hearing news of his death:

On Friday morning, police said the incident was deemed a homicide.

Photo by Google Maps street view