Man in custody, gunman still sought in poker murder

(Midtown - WABC, November 13, 2007) (WABC) -- Police say a career criminal is in custody, while the gunman is still being sought, in the murder at a Midtown Manhattan poker game earlier this month that killed a Wayne man.

Authorities say 35-year-old William Delvalle was taken into custody Friday in connection with the fatal shooting inside 251 Fifth Avenue on November 2.

Delvalle was charged with second degree murder and two counts of robbery.

He was arraigned over the weekend, and will appear before a grand jury hearing evidence in Lower Manhattan.

The gunfire claimed the life of 55-year-old Frank DeSena, of Wayne, a married father.

Delvalle is not believed to be the gunman.

According to the complaint, Devalle, "along with two other people, displayed two firearms, demanded money from a person and took money from that person, and that during the course of the robbery, they caused the death of a person who was not a participant in the robbery by shooting him."

The complaint says the "defendant forcibly stole property."

The shooting came at the end of a $100,000 robbery of the underground poker game.

The gunman allegedly dropped his weapon, causing it to fire and strike DeSena in the chest.

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