Second arrest in beating death of game developer over cigarette

4years ago

New York City news, New York news.

According to prosecutors, two men are facing a 25-year behind bars sentence for the beating death of a video game developer who co-founded a gaming business called Studio Studios amid a dispute over a cigarette.

On February 13, Damian Diaz, 29-year-old, has been charged with manslaughter, assault and attempted assault in connection with the fatal beating of Jose Zambrano while he was returning home late in the night on Nov. 17. Diaz’s 25-year-old accomplice, Joshua Hernandez, has been charged last month with the same counts.

The attack took place near Grand St. and Havemeyer St. shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 17. Diaz and Hernandez approached the 26-year-old victim and started beating, hitting and punching him after he refused to give them a cigarette.