NEW YORK – A suspect has been arrested in connection with a deadly vehicle robbery that resulted in the death of a man in Queens last year. The arrest comes after 43-year-old Mauro Chimbay was killed while attempting to stop a vehicle robbery on the 2500 block of 85th Street in East Elmhurst in November 2023.
According to police, Kenny Panama, 36, was taken into custody on murder and other charges related to the incident. The robbery took place in Jackson Heights, where Chimbay discovered someone burglarizing his parked car. When Chimbay confronted the suspect, the thief fled into a nearby car, which was driven by a second suspect. Chimbay then ran towards the car and held onto the hood as the second suspect drove away. He was thrown from the roof of the vehicle and sustained severe head trauma.
Chimbay was found mortally wounded by officers from the 115th Precinct who were responding to a 911 call about the robbery. He was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon after. Panama, who has a history of prior arrests, faces charges of murder, robbery, assault, and other offenses in connection with the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are continuing to search for the other individual linked to the incident. Anyone with information regarding the robbery or the other suspect is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. All calls and messages will be kept confidential.