Jeweler shot dead in NYC's Diamond District

Anyone know anything about this guy?


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May 21, 2004, 9:09AM
Jeweler shot dead in NYC's Diamond District
Associated Press
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2584172


NEW YORK -- A jeweler under indictment in a money laundering case was shot to death on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk, and the gunman remained at large early today, police said.

Police said Eduard Nektalov, 45, was shot once in the back of the head and twice in the back Thursday evening. The gunman vanished into the crowd.

*SNIP*

Nektalov was among 11 jewelers indicted last year in an international money laundering scheme, accused of helping Colombian drug lords launder money by molding gold into belt buckles, screws and other items.

The gunman approached Nektalov from behind and fired three shots, police said. He then fled, chased by an armed retired police officer who was working security nearby. He brandished a weapon and then disappeared into the crowd, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

*SNIP*

..and the name of one of his emoployees tells me he's a Russian immigrant....maybe Russian mob is involved?

and this guy may have been "flipping" to a government witness.

maybe two hours earlier. creepy.

He is a Repub!

New York City has strict control of handgun possesion (http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/nypd/html/dclm/ldinfo.html). A criminal could never posses a handgun in New York City, much less use it to murder someone.