Police identified a man with two outstanding warrants for a Brooklyn shooting and rape as a suspect yesterday in the shooting of rapper “Freaky Zeeky” and the murder of his bodyguard in Manhattan.
The 32-year-old suspect, John Mingo, allegedly shot Freaky (a.k.a. Ezekiel Jiles) after he and suspected accomplice Chauncey Dillon ripped a $20,000 pendant from Jiles. The shooting incident followed a minor car collision between the two last Friday outside a club near West 22nd Street and Sixth Avenue in Chelsea.
Images of the graphic shooting, obtained from a security camera at the scene, were released yesterday by the NYPD.
The incident followed a crash in which Jiles’ Jeep Cherokee careened with the late-model, four-door silver car in which Mingo, Dillon and others were traveling.
Mingo and Dillon decided to rob Jiles after he and his bodyguard got out of the Jeep to assess its damage. The two groups began trading punches until Mingo and Dillon pulled out their weapons, a .40-caliber handgun and a 9-mm gun respectively. Police allege that Mingo then shot Jiles as Dillon shot Jiles’ bodyguard, Eric Mangrum, 28.
During the scuffle, the wounded rapper managed to take the gun from Dillon, 29, who was later brought in by police and officially charged with murder on Tuesday.
Jiles was released yesterday from St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Police are still looking for the 5′ 7″, 130-pound Mingo, and ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to call a confidential tipline at (800) 577-TIPS.
They are also looking for the silver vehicle in which Mingo was a passenger. The late-model vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage after hitting a wall during the escape from the crime scene.
Lt. Stephen Camardese, commander of the Manhattan South Homicide Task Force, gave brief details about Mingo’s previous brushes with the law, including five prior arrests for drug and weapons possession, burglary, robbery, and recent warrants in connection with at least two violent crimes.
“We ask all New Yorkers to find this criminal and help bring him to justice,” Camardese.
On April 9, Mingo, who is still considered armed and dangerous, allegedly shot an oil-trucker deliveryman in the leg during a robbery in East Flatbush. He is also wanted in connection with a rape about six months ago.
