An Upper East Side restaurant worker was killed a block away from his Washington Heights home earlier this month (Google Maps)
A 46-year-old man who worked at an upscale Upper East Side restaurant was fatally shot in the chest by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting near his Washington Heights home earlier this month.
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Vernard Floranda had just moved to NYC two years ago for work, his mother told the NY Daily News. He was most recently employed as a sommelier at Cafe Boulud at 100 East 63rd Street.
The incident took place at a bit past midnight on Wednesday, October 2 at 160th and Amsterdam Avenue, when the shooter reportedly fired into a crowd, also wounding a 26-year-old man. Last week, police arrested three male suspects: 18-year-old Jason Texeira, 19-year-old Jeremiah Bascombe, and an unnamed 17-year-old. All three are facing charges of murder, assault and gun possession.
Floranda’s mother told the Daily News that his dream was to one day open his own wine bar. According to his LinkedIN profile, he had previously worked as a sommelier at Gramercy Tavern and at restaurants at the Mirage, MGM Grand and Aria in Las Vegas.
Floranda was born in San Diego to parents of Filipino descent, according to his obituary. He is survived by both parents, a sister and brother.
We’ve contacted Cafe Boulud to see if they’d like to provide a statement.
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