Murder-Suicide On Jamaica Avenue
Once again, Woodhaven has been rocked by tragedy. It's been a rough year, and the last week or so has been especially rough for Woodhaven and its' neighbors. A 2-year old girl was struck by a car at 85th Street and Rockaway Boulevard (she later died from her injuries). An 11-month old baby died at his babysitters house when he fell into a mop bucket full of water and drowned. And this is on top of the previous hit and run accidents on Jamaica Avenue that took the lives of 2 people.
And now, add to this the shocking tragedy that took place Sunday evening when one of our residents, and merchants, murdered his wife and then took his own life. Eusebio Salazar, 76, attacked his wife Geraldina, 51, with a butcher knife causing several wounds to her neck and torso. He then turned the knife on himself, delivering a fatal blow to his own chest. All of this was done in front of their grown son, who is afflicted with Down's Syndrome. Here is how the Daily News covered it:
Both Mr. and Mrs. Salazar owned and operated Selvin's Unisex Hair Salon at 95-16 Jamaica Avenue. Initial reports stated that they lived upstairs, but it appears they they lived in an apartment in the building next door (at 95-18). Here is a picture of Selvin's taken last February. At tonight's meeting of the 102nd Precinct Community Council, Captain Charles McEvoy addressed the situation briefly, noting that the case was closed.
Tonight, a makeshift memorial sits in on the sidewalk outside of the doorway where the couple lived. Candles flickered into the night, surrounded by flowers and notes of love and remembrance for Geraldina Salazar. A sign giving information on wake and funeral services for Ms. Salazar was hung on their front door. The wake will be held tomorrow (06/17) at Walker Funeral Home on 80th Street; viewing hours are between 2 and 5, and again between 7 and 9. As for the store itself, a sign noted that it was closed due to a death in the family -- but that they would be re-opening for business on Thursday. 
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