Washington Heights, NY - Suspect In Elevator Slay Of Jewish Man Was Caught

Washington Heights, NY - Cops were questioning a hulking ex-con last night as the suspect in the killing of a beloved Washington Heights grandfather in a brutal elevator mugging, police said.

Six-foot-6 William Hill, 24, was brought into the 34th Precinct station house at 7 p.m. after cops began looking for him in the murder of Jacob Gerstle, 81. Gerstle, a father of four and a well-known member of the local synagogue, died three days after the May 2 attack, when he was followed into his building on Bennett Avenue and pummeled to death.

Police identified Hill as the suspect in the attack on Gerstle and at least four similar elevator muggings of seniors in Washington Heights. Cops believe Hill attacked the other victims in May and June of last year, but the attack on Gerstle, in which his wallet containing $250 and his cellphone were taken, was the only deadly robbery, police said. Police could not immediately comment on how they tracked down Hill, who has a history of robberies.