Long Island Man Indicted For Murder Of L&B Spumoni Gardens Owner, Being Held Without Bail

“We allege that this defendant was lying in wait outside the victim’s home, then ambushed and shot him to death in cold blood,” Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said of the indictment, “This was a calculated and senseless murder of a beloved business man and I intend to prosecute this crime to the fullest extent of the law.”

It’s official: Andres “Andy” Fernandez, 40, who was arrested back on November 3, has been indicted for the murder of Louis Barbati, 61, the late co-owner of L&B Spumoni Gardens.

If convicted, Fernandez faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.

Barbati, a Dyker Heights resident and co-owner of the iconic pizzeria L&B Spumoni Gardens was fatally shot in the vicinity of his home Thursday evening, June 30. Officers responded to a call of a man shot at 7601 12th Avenue at approximately 7:02 p.m., and found Barbati in the backyard with bullet wounds to his torso, according to police.

An hour before his death, Barbati had left his restaurant carrying a plastic bag containing $15,000 in cash.

The evidence goes on to state that Fernandez, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, walked across the street to Barbati’s home, shot Barbati, and ran without taking the money, and fleeing in a late-model Acura.

Fernandez had gone to L&B’s earlier that day, according to the DA’s office.

Fernandez — who is also allegedly known as the “Avenue Y drug dealer”, according to a family friend — of Melville, Long Island, has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is being held without bail.

The FBI assisted in the investigation that led to Fernandez’s arrest and indictment, according to the District Attorney.