Bronx Man Sentenced for 2021 Queens Hotel Triple Shooting
A Tragic Shooting in Kew Gardens
A 24-year-old man from the Bronx has been sentenced to 75 years to life in prison after being convicted of murder and other charges for a deadly shooting that occurred at the Umbrella Hotel in Kew Gardens on New Year’s Day 2021. The incident, which took place during the early morning hours, resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man and left two others injured.
Richard Swygert was found guilty of killing Robert Williams, a 20-year-old from Rosedale, and wounding two others during a conflict between groups of young people outside the hotel. Williams, who was set to turn 21 the following day, became the first murder victim in New York City for that year.
Swygert fatally shot Robert Williams and wounded two others after a dispute erupted between factions of young people in front of the hotel.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
According to the charges and trial testimony, the events unfolded on January 1, 2021, around 1:09 a.m. Swygert and his group entered the Umbrella Hotel located on 82nd Avenue and Queens Boulevard. They waited for the elevator, and shortly after, the three victims exited the elevator. Swygert and his group followed them to the main lobby.
As both groups left the hotel, a verbal exchange occurred between one of the victims and a member of Swygert’s group. This led to a physical fight between the two groups. During the confrontation, Swygert pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots. He allegedly shot Robert Deandre Williams five times. He then fired six rounds at the second victim, causing injuries to his stomach, arms, and legs. The third victim was shot once in the leg.
Emergency medical services rushed Williams to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, where he was pronounced dead due to multiple gunshot wounds. The 40-year-old victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was in critical condition and required emergency surgery as well as additional procedures to prevent amputation. The second surviving victim, a 20-year-old man, was transported to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital and was in stable condition after treatment for a gunshot wound to the thigh.
Two men were rushed to area hospitals and survived.
Photo by Mari Estrella
Thirteen spent shell casings were recovered from the front of the Umbrella Hotel, which permanently closed shortly after the incident. The community of Kew Gardens had long criticized the hotel, claiming it was a hub for criminal activities such as prostitution, drug dealing, and human trafficking. Following the shooting, the hotel shut down days later.
The Umbrella Hotel was forced to close soon after the homicide after the Kew Gardens community rallied against it, claiming it was a hotbed of criminal activity.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Swygert was arrested by members of the NYPD on October 26, 2021. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “Richard Swygert turned a quiet Kew Garden street into a shooting gallery in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day 2021. He killed Robert Williams, shot another man six times and wounded a third, before running out of bullets and fleeing the scene. It was the first homicide of the year, and the defendant showed complete disregard.”
Swygert’s trial in Queens Supreme Court began on March 2 and concluded on March 16. After deliberating for approximately two days, the jury reached a guilty verdict. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant scheduled Swygert’s return date for April 24, when he will face a sentence of up to 75 years to life in prison.
“Thanks to the extraordinary work of our prosecutors and partners at the NYPD, this defendant was convicted at trial of murder and related charges,” Katz said. “We offer our condolences to the victims and their loved ones.”
