A business dispute in Queens turned deadly in the fall of 2017. Sixty-four-year-old Hani Kasem was shot in the head on the morning of October 23, 2017, inside his family’s wholesale distribution business in Ozone Park after three suited men arrived to collect on a loan. Kasem’s son had borrowed money for the family company, Garden Valley Distributors, and when he couldn’t repay the debt in full the lender, identified as Ppassim ’Big Sam’ Elder, began a campaign of intimidation and threats against the family.

During the October 23 confrontation the son was pistol-whipped and Kasem was shot; the assailants fled in a black Nissan Altima. Kasem was taken to Jamaica Hospital and died of his injuries a few days later. Several men linked to the extortion and killing were identified and arrested on federal charges related to extortion, firearms and the shooting.

If anyone knew the business, the people involved, or has information about the events that morning, please share what is known.