By Joe Anuta
A 20-year-old man was shot and killed in South Jamaica early Sunday morning in what witnesses described as a barrage of gunfire.
At about 1:15 a.m., police received a call of shots fired near the corner of Sutphin Boulevard and 123rd Avenue and arrived to find Cody Kahn, of 222-20 145th Road in Springfield Gardens, shot in the chest, the NYPD said.
EMS also responded and pronounced Kahn dead at the scene, according to the NYPD.
One neighbor, who did not want to be named, described hearing the shots and looking out her window. She saw someone pulling a man who was not moving into a driveway, between a car and the steps to a house.
According to witnesses who spoke with police, another man was also shot.
Neighbors said they heard at least five gunshots ring out in a single volley, although others put the number at around eight.
A man working in a deli around the corner from where Khan was found said the awning of his store was shot several times.
Several holes that appeared to have been made by bullets could clearly be seen from the sidewalk.
The next morning police had blocked off both 123rd Avenue west of Sutphin Boulevard and also 122nd Avenue east of Sutphin Boulevard to search for evidence.
At Kahn’s home in Springfield Gardens around the same time, his family and friends were devastated.
“Cody was fun, respectful and a happy person,” said his mother Helen, who was out of town with her husband Derrick when they received the news.
She spoke with TimesLedger Newspapers in the home where Kahn grew up. It was filled with friends and relatives. Many of them were in tears or appeared to be deep in thought, just staring into space. Others were preparing food for everyone to eat.
“Thanks to our friends and family, we are holding up,” his mother said.
Kahn was the youngest in his family. He had four sisters and one brother.
He graduated from Springfield High School about two years ago and had been doing maintenance on the custodial staff at a junior high school in the borough. He wanted to be a corrections officer, according to his mother.
Like many young men barely out of their teens, he enjoyed video games and hanging out with friends. He had a girlfriend named Bonnie.
But above all else, he doted on his niece Madison.
“His pride and joy was his niece, who was born three months ago,” he mother recalled with a smile. “He had to check on her all the time.”
Within seconds she produced a picture of Kahn cradling the little girl in his arms, while the girl herself was sucking a bottle of milk nearby.
Kahn’s mother said police know who the shooter is, but this could not be confirmed with the NYPD.
As of press time Tuesday evening, no arrests had been made.
Kahn’s mother said she knows she cannot bring back her son, but she hopes that his death might go to show how gun violence is taking too many young lives in the city.
“Tomorrow is not a promise to anyone,” she said. “But gun violence is too much. We need the guns off the street.”
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
