By Ivan Pereira
Police were searching for clues in a shooting that left one man dead in the middle of a South Jamaica street Friday night.
The unidentified victim was found dead from a gunshot wound to the neck at the corner of 140th Street and 130th Avenue around 7:30 p.m. after police responded to a 911 phone call, according to investigators.
No suspects have been named and there were no arrests as of press time Tuesday.
Officers were surveying the scene up until Saturday afternoon. Neighbors said they did not know about the incident until police cars showed up that night.
Dean Revess, who lived right near the crime scene, said he was at his home during the time of the shooting but did not hear any gunshots.
“I didn’t hear any commotion or anything,” said Revess, who has lived in the home for the last three years. “This block is usually quiet at that time.”
Other neighbors said they were unsure if the victim lived in the neighborhood or was visiting from another place.
One of the houses on the block is abandoned and has small openings on its first and second floors. Despite being a prime spot for squatters, the residents said they have never seen anyone inside the vacant property.
“The house is just there, but no one uses it for any trouble,” Revess said.
Although this is the 11th homicide to take place in 2011 in the 113th Precinct — which covers the neighborhoods of South Jamaica, St. Albans, Hollis, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park, Addisleigh Park and Locust Manor — murders have gone down 21.4 percent from 14 killings during the same during last year. Overall crime in the precinct has increased 17.96 percent from 1,381 reported incidents in 2010 to 1,629 incidents this year.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), text their tips to 274637 (crimes) then enter TIP577 or log on to nypdcrimestoppers.com. All reports will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
