Grieving family remembers ‘wonderful person, great father’ after suspect arrested in Queens BMW road rage death

Zoila Ortega lost her younger brother, Francis Ortega, in a gruesome road rage incident on October 20, 2023. Francis, a respected business owner and devoted father of three, was run down with his own BMW after a fender-bender in Queens.

The incident, described by Zoila as a “terrible tragedy for nothing,” left hundreds of friends and family members mourning the loss of a beloved man. Francis was known for helping others and was described as a beautiful person who touched many lives.

The attack occurred after Francis accidentally rear-ended a parked Nissan Altima, leading to a brutal beatdown by three men followed by a fatal hit-and-run using his own car. The suspects fled the scene, leaving Francis dead and a void in the hearts of his loved ones.

Despite the tragedy, Francis’s legacy lives on through the successful clothing business he built and the values he instilled in his two sons. He was remembered as a loving father who prioritized his children and a supportive figure in his community.

The arrest of suspect Zahir Williams brought some closure to the grieving family. Charged with murder, gang assault, vehicular assault, and unauthorized use of a vehicle, Williams was held without bail, although the pain of the loss remained for Francis’s family and friends.