Store Owner And Father Of Four Found Dead At 86th Street And 19th Avenue (Updated)

The body found last night at 86th Street and 19th Avenue belongs to a father of four and a small business owner, Isaac Kadare, 59.

He was found on the floor of his 99-cent store at 1877 86th Street by two customers at about 8:45 p.m. He was unconscious, so they called the police.

EMT personnel who arrived at the scene stated he had suffered from head trauma. An employee later said that the police were investigating this as a probable homicide. However, a police source mentioned that they may have been a heart attack followed by a fall. Nothing has been publicly confirmed yet, though police are calling this suspicious.

Kadare owned the two stores on the bottom floor and rented out the apartments above. He came to the United States from Israel and has two teenage daughters, a son and a 10-year-old daughter.

Neighbors remembered him as a “nice guy” and a “good person.” They said that his children often work in the store with him, but that they must have left a little early last night.

His family showed up quickly after hearing the news. His wife and daughter were hysterical.

“I don’t even know what to say. He loved his family, his four kids,” said his wife, Nancy Kadare through tears. She was hoping to celebrate his 60th birthday together next week.

“He was a really hard-working man, I don’t get it. A person is alive one day, and the next they are not.”

A tipster said that he drove by the store last night “and saw a huge chunk of the street blocked off.”

Police are not officially calling this a homicide until the medical examiner determines the cause of death.

Councilman David Greenfield has joined with the Sephardic Community Federation to offer a $5,000 reward leading to the arrest of the anyone involved in the incident. He also released the following statement:

I am deeply saddened that such a horrific act took place in our community, as there is no place for this type of violence in our society. My condolences to the family of Isaac Kadare, including his wife and four children. By all accounts, Mr. Kadare was a kind, caring and devoted family man who never hesitated to help those in need. I am joining with the Sephardic Community Federation to offer $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this heinous crime. We must stand together as a community and make sure the perpetrator is held accountable and taken off our streets as soon as possible.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.

UPDATE (2:10 p.m.): Senator Martin Golden is also offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

On his Twitter page he writes, “I am offering a $5,000 dollar reward to help solve the murder of Bensonhurst business owner Isaac Kadare. My sympathies are with his family.”

UPDATE (5:20 p.m.): Medical examiner’s office spokesperson Grace Bruges has been quoted as saying that the death of Isaac Kadare has been ruled a homicide.

The store owner who was found unconscious in his shop last night was stabbed in the throat and shot in the head, officials said.

There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the responsible party.