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Police Arrest 2 Suspects In Death Of Queens Man

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police have arrested two men in connection with the death of a gay man in his Queens apartment.

Elijah Agyepong of the Bronx was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder, police said.

Cecil Golden of the Bronx was arrested Wednesday and also charged with first-degree murder, police said. He was additionally charged with criminal possession of stolen property.

The victim, David Rangel, was found dead at his Jackson Heights apartment on Jan. 26. Rangel was found stuffed under a couch, officials said.

Rangel was one of three gay men found slain in New York City earlier this year, prompting concerns from community leaders that the slayings might be related. However, police have it said appears the cases are not related and that different suspects were involved in each incident.

On Jan. 28, Charles Romo, 48, was found by his housekeeper in his underwear, tied up and beaten in his Hamilton Heights apartment.

Two men, Keith Stokes, 50, and Ralph Stokes, 52, were charged with Romo's murder. A third suspect, Bridgette Cash, 38, was charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly robbing Romo, police said.

On Feb. 9, police found Joseph Benzinger, 54, dead inside a hotel room at the Crown Motor Inn on Queens Boulevard, police said.

Police later arrested Lleuyel Garcia, 23, on second-degree murder, robbery, criminal possession of stolen property and tampering with physical evidence charges in connection with Benzinger's death.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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