One moonlighting Westchester court officer was shot dead and another was wounded early yesterday at a Queens strip club when a man bounced from the establishment for fighting returned and sprayed the front door with bullets, police said.
The officers were not authorized to work the private security detail, a court spokesman said.
A third bouncer also was wounded in the violence, which erupted about 3:45 a.m. outside Club Phenomenon at 62-05 30th Ave. in Woodside – the jiggle joint’s second murder in six months.
Francisco Rosa III, who police sources said was moonlighting at the club to make extra cash because he was expecting a child with his fiancée, was shot several times in the abdomen.
Rosa, 32, who worked at Mount Vernon Municipal Court, died at Elmhurst Hospital.
Michael Serrano, 35, who’s assigned to New Rochelle City Court, was shot in the hand and arm, and bouncer Reginald Hayes, 41, was shot in the arm and buttock.
Both Rosa, a court officer for four years, and Serrano, a five-year officer, were wearing bulletproof vests and carrying their court-issued 9 mm pistols, said cops.
Court officers are barred from working at businesses that serve alcohol, said David Bookstaver, a spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration.
“Had they asked for permission to work in an establishment like that it would have been denied,” he said.
“We will conduct a very thorough investigation of our own.”
The deadly drama began when the three bouncers intervened in a fight between two groups of men in the club, escorting one group outside.
Minutes later, those men returned in a black Ford Taurus. The car jumped the curb, and one of the men burst out and opened fire on the bouncers as they stood watch in front of the club, police said.
“The shooter opened up the car door, stood up and fired off between six and seven rounds,” said police Capt. Matthew Delgaudio.
The men speeded away after the cold-blooded shooting. The shooter is described as a Hispanic man in his 20s.
About 50 patrons were in the club at the time.
Witnesses said the drive-by bullet barrage brought pandemonium to Club Phenomenon.
“Everybody was very panicked,” said eyewitness George Constantino. “People were screaming.”
Club staff were reeling yesterday over the murder.
“I’m very close to the bouncers,” said a waitress. “They’re really sweet. They make me feel safe. I always feel safe around them.”
Police sources said Rosa was looking forward to a wedding in the next few days.
He and his bride-to-be had tried to get a marriage license last week, but were delayed because the couple didn’t have all the proper documents.
Serrano and Hayes were both listed in stable condition yesterday at Elmhurst Hospital.
In the November slaying at Club Phenomenon, David Garcia, 23, was gunned down after a fight inside the flesh emporium spilled out into the street.
On its Web site, Club Phenomenon described itself as a 10,000-square-foot club featuring a pool room, full bar and “two brightly-lit stages that allow close-up viewing of the entertainers.”
Additional reporting by Philip Messing