Albert Itzkowitz spent his days tending to others – baking bread at the kosher bakery he owned, volunteering as an EMT, and serving as a rabbi at a local nursing home. On May 18, the 75-year-old was found shot dead along the shoreline of Kissena Lake in Queens, and five weeks later, his grieving family is demanding answers about whether anti-Semitic hate motivated his killing.
Background
Itzkowitz, a resident of Kew Gardens Hills, owned the G&I Kosher Bakery on Main Street for several years before it shut down. Those who knew him describe a man devoted to his family and community – a husband whose wife passed away just weeks before his murder, a father who never missed a school function or family milestone, and a grandfather who treated each grandchild as the most important person in the world.
"Daddy was a family man. He was a devoted husband," said his daughter, Leah Livshitz. "He was the greatest father and grandfather we could have asked for."
On the day of his death, Itzkowitz had followed what appeared to be a normal routine. He made trips to his home, a synagogue, a Capital One bank where he made a withdrawal, and a Walgreens where he made a purchase, according to police. By late afternoon, he was at Kissena Park, found seated in a beach chair wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, a crossword puzzle beside him – appearing to have been sunbathing along the lake's shoreline.
"He was not involved in a dispute. He was not committing any crime," Livshitz said. "His wallet was still on him. He was simply sitting there, an Orthodox Jewish man, dressed as he was. A rabbi going about his day."
The Investigation
Itzkowitz was shot in the neck and back along the shoreline of Kissena Lake just before 5 p.m. May 18. The city medical examiner's office has ruled the case a homicide.
The NYPD has not officially classified the killing as a hate crime but said it has not been ruled out, and no motive has been established. Investigators are exploring "all motives," police said, noting that Crime Stoppers has distributed flyers for weeks and the department's scuba team has searched the lake.
Itzkowitz was found in attire with "no distinguishing religious factors" that would identify him as Jewish, authorities said. However, his family insists he was recognizable as a member of the Jewish community.
"Daddy was visibly Jewish," Livshitz told reporters gathered at Kissena Park last Thursday. "He was targeted in broad daylight."
With no suspect or arrest more than a month after the killing, Itzkowitz's loved ones are grappling with unanswered questions about why someone would target their father.
"And 5 weeks later the NYPD has still announced no arrests. No suspects, no leads and no publicly stated motive," Livshitz said. "That is unacceptable. This is not some random crime in some random place."
The Reward
In an effort to generate new leads, Itzkowitz's family announced it is matching Crime Stoppers' $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest – bringing the total payout to $20,000.
"The police estimate there could have been 200, 300 people here. It's a very large park," said Tzvi Yonie Itzkowitz, the victim's youngest son, age 34. "They're asking that anyone who saw anything or knows anything to come forward."
State Senator John Liu joined calls for community members to step forward with information.
"Somebody must have seen and heard something," Liu said. "Number one there is a killer at large. And it makes it dangerous for all of us and our families."
Key Takeaways
- Albert Itzkowitz, 75, was found shot dead along Kissena Lake in Queens on May 18; the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
- The NYPD has not classified the killing as a hate crime but says it hasn't been ruled out and no motive has been established.
- Family members say Itzkowitz was "visibly Jewish" and believe he was targeted because of his faith.
- Crime Stoppers and the victim's family are now offering a combined $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
- Itzkowitz owned G&I Kosher Bakery and served as both a volunteer EMT and a rabbi at a local nursing home.
- NYPD data shows 41 confirmed anti-Jewish hate crimes were reported in New York City last month – a 70 percent jump from the 24 counted in May 2025.
What's Next
Investigators continue to search for suspects and a motive. Police are urging anyone who was at Kissena Park on May 18 between noon and 5 p.m., or who may have information about the shooting, to contact Crime Stoppers. The family is scheduled to speak with investigators further as the case remains active.