New York jeweler to the stars Aron Aranbayev was killed by a hit-and-run driver after the two had gotten in to a fight.
On Sunday night on 71st Avenue in Forest Hills, Queens, Aranbayev and the driver of the car got into a verbal fight sometime after 11 p.m., the NYPD said, according to NBC. The driver eventually hit Aranbayev with a Dodge Magnum and fled from the scene of the crime. Police believe the two may have been arguing over a parking spot.
The 40-year-old jeweler and father of four suffered from severe head trauma, so he was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he died on Monday morning.
"He was being dropped off, and some guy was in a rush," his cousin, Israel Aranbuyov, said outside his funeral on Tuesday. "They got into a verbal argument and the guy ran into him."
"Just shocking to hear and see what's happened with him," a mourner told CBS.
Aranbayev was co-owner of Rafaello & Co., and he had many celebrity clients, including Floyd Mayweather, Jay-Z, Khloe Kardashian and Diddy, according to the Daily Mail. He went by Eric at the store and he was always posting photos of himself and his celebrity clients to his Instagram. Many of them, including Rick Ross, posted their tributes to social media.
"People all over the world are going to miss him," his friend and jeweler Daryl Dunn told the New York Post. "From the celebrities to the regular people."
Police are still trying to find the suspect who was driving the car.
With @iamdiddy last night in the A! #BadBoy #MMG #ATL #TeamRafaello @rafaelloandco
A photo posted by Eric A. (@rafaello_eric) on Feb 7, 2014 at 7:27am PST
Chilling with the homie @kingjames A photo posted by Eric A. (@rafaello_eric) on Jul 7, 2013 at 8:59pm PDT
All star weekend with the homie Big Sean. @rafaelloandcompany
A photo posted by Eric A. (@rafaello_eric) on Feb 15, 2013 at 1:59pm PST
With the champ @floydmayweather #TMT #teamrafaello A photo posted by Eric A. (@rafaello_eric) on Jul 15, 2014 at 6:13am PDT
A photo posted by Ricky Rozay (@richforever) on Jul 21, 2015 at 7:09am PDT
Game over @rafaelloandco #teamrafaello A photo posted by Eric A. (@rafaello_eric) on Feb 24, 2013 at 7:01am PST
