By Christina Santucci
Police identified a 23-year-old man who died after he was shot in the head near Addisleigh Park as Ariel Edwards.
As of Tuesday, there had not been any arrests in connection with the shooting last Thursday, according to the NYPD.
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 Edwards with a single gunshot wound in the head.
He was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the NYPD.
Before he died, a witness said Edwards sought help from the house next door to where he lived.
“I pulled up and as I’m trying to get out of the car, he’s banging on the door of the group home,” said Keith Hutson.
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, Edwards began to walk toward him.
“Then he came out into the street and collapsed eventually,” Hutson said.
Hutson said he called 911 and rushed over to Edwards.
“By then he couldn’t speak, and by the time the ambulance came …,” Hutson said, trailing off.
Several of Edwards’ loved ones 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 Edwards 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 seems very surprising. It’s a very quiet block,” he said.
Reach photo editor Christina Santucci by e-mail at csantucci@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4589.
