An alleged Brooklyn killer on the lam for over a decade tried to fight extradition from the Dominican Republic — by mutilating his hands to destroy his fingerprints, police sources said.
Hector Ortiz, 43, allegedly gunned down Eddy Antigua, 30, inside a Brooklyn lounge on May 3, 2003.
He was eyed as a suspect but quickly fled to the Dominican Republic where he was hiding for over 10 years, sources said.
But a break in the case came last September, when Ortiz and a couple of pals allegedly stole a boat in the Dominican Republic and sailed to the Puerto Rican border in an attempt to return to the US.
Immigration officials spotted the suspects after the boat’s engine broke down.
Authorities ran their prints and discovered the NYPD had an active warrant for Ortiz’s arrest in connection to the murder.
While in custody Ortiz mutilated his fingers with a razor blade and burned his hands in a misguided attempt to ruin prints after they were already taken, sources said.
The US Attorney’s Office notified the NYPD, and in October, Ortiz was indicted for murder by the Brooklyn DA. He was arraigned and held without bail and is being charged with murder.