![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bronx-man-in-prison-killing-man-astoria01.webp\")
\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
A Bronx man was sentenced to 24 years in prison but beating a Brooklyn man unconscious in Astoria, stealing his car, and then running him over in October 2023. <\/p>\n
File photo by Lloyd Mitchell<\/p>\n
A Bronx man was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Wednesday for brutally beating a 50-year-old man in Astoria<\/a> and then stealing the victim\u2019s car and deliberately running over his unconscious body, causing his death in October 2023.<\/p>\n Zahir Williams<\/a>, 26, of Beck Street in the Longwood section of the Bronx, pleaded guilty on Oct. 14 to manslaughter in the first degree in satisfaction of the indictment charges against him in the killing of Francisco Ortega<\/a>, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.<\/p>\n According to the charges and investigation, on the morning of Friday, Oct. 20, at around 3:30 a.m., Ortega was driving a BMW sedan and stopped his car in front of 40-06 Astoria Blvd. near Williams and two other men. Williams approached the BMW and engaged Ortega in a conversation. Ortega got out of his BMW and continued speaking with Williams and his co-defendant, with whom the victim had a brief verbal dispute before Ortega drove away.<\/p>\n At approximately 3:55 a.m., Ortega returned to the area and stopped at a red light at the intersection of Steinway Street and Astoria Boulevard. Williams and his co-defendant approached the driver\u2019s side of the car. Ortega pulled the vehicle over, exited, and stood next to his car with the door ajar, and spoke with Williams. As the two men were speaking, another individual approached Ortega from behind and punched him in the back of the head. The victim fell and struck his head on the car. As Ortega lay on the ground, Williams and others repeatedly kicked and punched him, according to the charges.<\/p>\n Williams then stepped over the unconscious Ortega and entered the driver\u2019s side of the victim\u2019s BMW. Attempting to close the door, Williams repeatedly slammed Ortega\u2019s head and body, according to the investigation. Williams\u2019 co-defendant pulled Ortega\u2019s body away from the side of the car toward the center of the roadway. Williams shut the door and pulled away.<\/p>\n Williams drove Ortega\u2019s car around the block and plotted a deliberate approach to Ortega, who was still lying in the road unconscious, according to the charges. Williams slowed down, aligned the vehicle with Ortega\u2019s body, then abruptly accelerated and drove over the victim. Williams dragged Ortega\u2019s body several feet before ramming into a parked car. He then abandoned the stolen BWW and ran from the scene of the crime southbound on Steinway Street.<\/p>\n