Police in Queens are investigating the death of an elderly supermarket owner found bound and beaten inside his home Monday morning.
Investigators say 89-year-old Damaso Llano was discovered dead in his house on 43rd Avenue in Corona. His hands were bound by flexible plastic handcuffs and his face was severely beaten.
Llano was one of three co-owners of a supermarket in Corona. Those who knew the Cuban expatriate said Llano was known as the patriarch of his community and always willing to help someone in need.
"Everyone he knew knew that he was just an awesome guy," Llano's grieving son, Eddie Llano, told reporters outside his father's home.
"It's devastating, we're all in shock," added relative Teresa Milione. "We can't believe that such a thing has happened to such a gentle gentleman."
Police don't have a suspect. Detectives have not determined if anything was missing from Llano's apartment.
"He was a very sweet, generous, kind-hearted, wonderful man who helped a lot of people," said friend Lucy Schilero. "That he had to die like this has a lot of people in this community fuming. So we truly believe it's someone he knew."
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