Two men charged with murder, robbery in Queens fire
Two young men have been charged after they robbed and killed a Queens man before they set his apartment on fire to cover up their crimes this weekend, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Stephen Peters, 22, and Jason St. Hill, 17, went to the apartment of Azeem Ali, 43, in the Richmond Hill section of Queens just after midnight on Sunday. After they arrived, Peters allegedly punched and pistol whipped the victim and then tied his hands and feet with electrical cord.
Peters also allegedly took Ali’s ATM card and demanded his PIN number before shooting him in the head. He then poured gasoline around the apartment and set it on fire. The two men allegedly headed to an ATM machine at a nearby gas station where they withdrew $200 from Ali’s account.
The accused men were arraigned in Queens Criminal Court Thursday evening. They are charged with murder, kidnapping, burglary, arson, and robbery, among other charges. They were held without bail and ordered to return to court on March 14.
