April 16, 2026 QUEENS, NY In a case that horrified even the most seasoned investigators, a Queens jury has delivered a definitive blow to a man who thought he could kill for a handful of jewelry and a few coins. Rodolfo Lopez-Portillo, 51, was found guilty Wednesday of the stomach-churning 2022 murder of local pawn shop owner Arasb Shoughi.

The evidence was so gruesome that when police first arrived at the scene, they mistakenly believed the victim had been shot. The reality was far more barbaric.

A Calculated Trap

On a Monday afternoon in March 2022, the Global Pawn Shop on Jamaica Avenue became a house of horrors. Prosecutors laid out a timeline that suggests Lopez-Portillo didn't just snap—he planned a cold-blooded execution.

Dressed in a black mask, hood, and sunglasses, Lopez-Portillo lured the 60-year-old Shoughi into a false sense of security by selling him two wristwatches. When the shop owner stepped out from behind the safety glass to place the watches in a display case, the trap snapped shut.

"He Stole a Ring Off the Dying Man’s Finger"

As Shoughi turned his back, Lopez-Portillo produced a heavy metal pipe and unleashed a frenzy of violence. According to trial testimony, the defendant bludgeoned Shoughi repeatedly, continuing the assault even as the victim lay bleeding and motionless on the floor.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz highlighted a detail that underscores the defendant’s absolute lack of humanity:

“After stealing jewelry and other items from the property, Rodolfo Lopez-Portillo then stole a ring off the dying man’s finger before fleeing the location.”

Even as a witness walked into the shop and called 911, the killer didn't flinch. He struck Shoughi three more times in the head with the pipe before walking out the door.

The Paper Trail and the Manhunt

Lopez-Portillo’s attempt to play the "invisible man" failed miserably.

• The Video: Surveillance footage tracked him directly from the crime scene back to his own apartment building just blocks away.

• The Prints: He had removed one glove during the robbery, leaving behind clear fingerprints that tied him to the scene.

• The Suitcase: After fleeing to Baltimore, Maryland, he was cornered at a Greyhound bus station. Inside his luggage? The very coins and jewelry stolen from Shoughi’s shop.

Justice Served

Arasb Shoughi clung to life for nearly three weeks before succumbing to catastrophic brain trauma. On Wednesday, the jury needed only a single day of deliberation to find Lopez-Portillo guilty on all counts, including Second-Degree Murder and First-Degree Robbery.

“The defendant has now been convicted of murder and will face 25 years to life in prison,” District Attorney Katz stated.

Lopez-Portillo is scheduled for sentencing on May 11. For the Hollis community and the family of Arasb Shoughi, the verdict marks the end of a nightmare and the beginning of a life behind bars for a man who chose a metal pipe over human life.