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Suspect killed Bay Ridge ‘unofficial mayor’ Michael Scully after long rivalry: NYPD

michael scully
Police arrested Bay Ridge resident George Vayos on Sept. 8 in the killing of his neighbor Michael Scully.
Photo by Todd Maisel

A Bay Ridge man will be arraigned on murder charges for fatally shooting his 62-year-old neighbor on 74th Street Labor Day morning.

George Vayos, 52, allegedly shot and killed Michael Scully on Sept. 7 after a long-standing rivalry, law enforcement sources said.

Police said that Vayos shot Scully while he was walking his dog in front of his 74th Street home by Seventh Avenue at about 6:50 am Monday morning. Officers from the 68th Precinct found him unconscious and unresponsive, slumped over on the front steps, with gunshot wounds to his head and shoulder.

Paramedics rushed Scully to NYU Langone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

michael scully
Police apprehended Vayos on Tuesday and charged him with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.Photo by Todd Maisel

Detectives say Scully was an “unofficial” mayor of his block who had longstanding friction with Vayos, a self-appointed safety patroller of the community. The two apparently had arguments in the past before the Monday morning shooting. 

Police arrested Vayos and walked him out of the 68th Precinct station house Tuesday night. The suspect didn’t say anything to the horde of press outside to see him. Police adjusted his mask in the vestibule of the station house upon his request.

He has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a firearm.

This story first appeared on AMNY.com.

michael scully
George Vayos, a Bay Ridge resident charged in the killing of neighbor Michael Scully, was self-appointed safety patroller in Bay Ridge.Photo by Todd Maisel