A tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday, January 21, in Brooklyn, N.Y., when Michael Shelonchik, 53, was fatally beaten in an apparent robbery, the New York Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE. Shelonchik was discovered dead in the back of a taxi in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn. Around 6 p.m., the NYPD received a distress call reporting that two unidentified individuals had attacked him outside 532 Neptune Avenue. According to police reports, the assailants forcefully opened the backseat door and “began punching the victim.”
“The individuals forcibly removed the victim’s chain from his neck and fled on foot,” the NYPD stated. After the brutal assault, Shelonchik suffered a medical episode and was swiftly transported by EMS to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the exact cause of death through post-mortem examinations scheduled for this week.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking two suspects believed to be in their 20s and of dark complexion. “One was last seen wearing a black hooded coat, blue sweatpants, and white sneakers, and the other individual was wearing a black hooded coat, black pants, and black sneakers. Both males were wearing balaclavas,” the NYPD detailed.
Shelonchik’s family is devastated by the loss. His wife, Jennifer, took to Facebook to express her grief, writing, “I’m a widow. Guys. No, I’m sorry just please pray for me. I’ve been married since 1994.” Their daughter, Taylor, 27, shared her sorrow with the New York Post, describing her father as a beloved figure who knew the streets of New York City “like the back of his hands.”
“He never in life could we imagine something like this could happen to him,” Taylor said, portraying her father as “a father every girl could dream of.” She further lamented, “It sounds cliché, but it is true. I feel like you only hear stories about these types of people because just the good die young. He was everything to us. He did everything for us. He was the sole provider, the sole emotional rock, the sole everything.”
Taylor continued, expressing her profound loss, “I am going to miss him more than… this is indescribable. I was just saying to my grandma. I don’t know how to live without him. He’s my life. He taught me everything I know.”
Her sister, Lexi, 20, also expressed her shock and sorrow, stating she is “speechless” by the news of their father’s death. The family is receiving support from loved ones as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.
Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks emphasized the importance of avoiding speculation about the incident. “The post-mortems have not been conducted yet. I genuinely hope folk won’t throw wild speculation out there. That really does not support the family who are devastated at this time. Let’s work on the facts and we will know the post-mortem facts very quickly,” he urged.
Banks also reassured the community that the incident appears isolated to the property and poses no broader risk. “As you can probably imagine, anyone losing a family member in such circumstances is a really tragic and difficult thing to deal with, particularly losing a child. The death of a six-year-old child is particularly tragic, so the family are being supported. But clearly my appeal has been for privacy at this time.”
As authorities continue their investigation, the Brooklyn community mourns the loss of Michael Shelonchik and supports his family through their profound grief.