Tyquan Long: NYPD Searching For Man Accused Of Murdering Girlfriend
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is asking assistance in finding a man accused of killing his girlfriend and wounding another woman.
People reports that Tyquan Long, 29, thought his girlfriend Joann Gravette, 36, was cheating on him with her neighbor at a Far Rockaway apartment building in Queens. According to police, Long is accused of going to the 11th floor apartment building on Wednesday morning before 11 a.m. and shooting Gravette several times. He also allegedly wounded the mother of the man who Long suspected Gravette of cheating with.
Joann Gravette's mother tells me she believes her daughter's alleged killer was high on K2. @PIX11News @6 #NYC pic.twitter.com/QaCMtBIR5p
— Mario Díaz (@KPRC2Mario) January 27, 2016
Per the New York Times, Gravette’s family members stated that Long has an extensive history of violence against his girlfriend, as well as a drug problem. In September, he was arrested and charged with assault, harassment, and petty larceny after throwing a shoe and lamp at Gravette, and taking $990 from her.
Gravette, however, told neighbors that she didn’t think she was in grave danger and that she’d been dating Long for around five years. One of Gravette’s neighbors, Johnny Kelly, 51, told authorities that Long called him at least eight times within the last few days, demanding money and threatening to hurt him.
“He said he needed some money or there would be bloodshed. I told her I was scared for her. I said, ‘You read about this in the paper every day.’ She said, ‘No, leave him alone. He’s just buggin’.'”
Kelly saw Long a little after 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning at a subway station, where he alleges Long, looking maniacal, charged after him. Kelly told police he was able to get the situation under control. Police believe Kelly saw Long shortly after the shooting happened.
While leaving the building, Long reportedly got into a dispute with another woman, Barbara Romano, the 51-year-old mother of the man Long suspected Gravette of having an affair with. Long allegedly fired a shot at the woman, hitting her in her left pinkie finger.
#Wanted for murder on 1/27 in #Queens. If you know where TYQUAN LONG is call #800577TIPS #yourcityyourcall #Reward pic.twitter.com/WDel4NuR2i
— NYPD Chief of Department (@NYPDChiefOfDept) January 28, 2016
Romano’s sister, Pat Romano-Hines, 50, stated that Long started shooting out of nowhere, giving no reason or indication about why he decided to shoot at Romano, who was standing in the lobby of the apartment building, talking to the security guard.
“He just came down and started shooting.”
According to Yolanda Gravette, Joann’s mother, Long seemed consumed and possessive over his girlfriend, and tried to control everything she did.
“He was possessed, like she couldn’t be with nobody but him.”
When the worried mother heard about her daughter being shot, she called Long at around 4 p.m., but Long acted like he had no idea what happened.
“He said, ‘What’s going on? Where she at? She aint answering her phone.'”
Yolanda Gravette told police that her daughter and Long got engaged around two years ago, and in the beginning, they both seemed happy. Yet, soon after, family and friends grew concerned when Long reportedly started using K2, a synthetic form of marijuana, and lost his job at a barbershop shortly after.
Long fled the scene and hasn’t been seen by Joann Gravette’s family or friends since Wednesday. He’s described as a black male, standing 5-foot-10, and weighing around 210 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Anyone with any information on Tyquan Long and his whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577—TIPS. He’s considered armed and dangerous.
[Photo by the NYPD Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information (DCPI)]
