Father of two is mourned in Fresh Meadows

Friends and family of a slain Queens man gathered at the site of his murder to mourn their loss and to celebrate his life on Saturday, November 6.
Laseam Hogan, 27, was gunned down after an argument in the courtyard of the Pomonok Houses in Fresh Meadows where he lived on October 15. Hogan was shot once in the head, once in the torso, and twice in the leg and police are still searching for the gunman.
The victim’s mother, Andrea McGowan, said that her son was not a violent person and that people in the neighborhood would seek him out when they had a problem.
Hogan left behind two young daughters. “He was a great father and very into his kids. He was really a father figure and inspiration to everyone,” McGowan said.
Those gathered at Pomonok said he was an accomplished rapper and had a sense of humor and a smile that could turn anybody’s bad day around.
“All of his love was from his heart. He was a peaceful and gentle man,” said Rosalind Harris, who has lived at Pomonok for 10 years. “He was a brother, a cousin and a friend all in one.”
Hogan’s father, Reverend Richard Hogan, pleaded with the young men at the rally not to turn to violence to avenge their friend’s death, but instead to learn from what happened and turn their lives around.
“I lost my son because of anger,” the reverend told the crowd. “None of us have permission to take another life. If you want to kill, go to the war. Step back and learn from this.”
In December 2009, Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn and Senator Toby Ann Stavisky secured $700,000 in funds to install security cameras at Pomonok, but as of now no such cameras have been put in place – the victim’s mother wants to know why.
“Where are the cameras?” she asked. “They [elected officials] need to step up.”
Mayersohn said that the Dormitory Authority approved the cameras the end of October and that the Assembly will issue a contract for installation at the end of November or early December.
“I’ve been insisting on the cameras because we believe people will be a little more reluctant to commit crimes,” said Mayersohn, who added that cameras will be installed both inside and outside of the buildings.