By Christina Santucci
A 23-year-old man who was shot in the head made a desperate attempt to get help before he collapsed in St. Albans Thursday afternoon, a witness and the NYPD said.
Police said when they responded at about 2 p.m. to 175th Place near Linden Boulevard just outside the Addisleigh Park section of St. Albans, they found the victim with a single gunshot wound in the head.
The man was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the NYPD.
Before he died, a witness said the victim sought help from the home next door to where he lived.
“He was banging on the house over there, bleeding profusely,” said Keith Hutson, who had just parked on the St. Albans street as the victim was knocking.
Hutson, who has been doing work on the street, had become acquainted with the 23-year-old, and when Hutson called to him to see what was wrong, the man began to walk towards Hutson.
“Then he came out into the street and collapsed eventually,” Hutson said.
Hutson said he called 911 and rushed over to the victim.
“By then, he couldn’t speak, and by the time the ambulance came…,” Hutson said, trailing off.
Several loved ones of the victim briefly gathered on Linden Boulevard, and one woman could be heard sobbing before the group abruptly left.
Another man who only identified himself by the initial C. said the victim was a longtime resident of 175th Place.
“He was just one of the guys on the block,” he said. “He was a good kid.”
Hutson said he was shocked by the shooting.
“It’s a very quiet block,” he said.
Police said Thursday afternoon that there were no arrests made.
Reach photo editor Christina Santucci by e-mail at csantucci@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4589.
