By Christina Santucci
A 29-year-old man died after he was shot five times in front of a Springfield Gardens deli early Saturday, police said.
Emergency responders were called to 184-09 140th Ave. at about 1:30 a.m., found the victim and brought him to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The NYPD said no one was immediately arrested and the investigation into the unidentified man’s death was ongoing.
Naz Hajje, who is the manager of King Deli Grocery Corp. in front of which the shooting took place, said he was surprised by the violence.
“I’ve been here two years and never a problem,” he said.
He had closed up for the night at midnight Friday – about an hour and half before the murder – and said he plans to shut the store earlier now, at about 9 or 10 p.m.
Residents of the area said they heard between five and nine gunshots before police swarmed the street and an ambulance arrived.
Cora Thompson, who has lived less than a block away since 1996, said she first heard three shots, then three more, before a third set that sounded more distant.
“That’s the first time I have ever heard anything like that and I was scared,” she said.
Minutes later police were on scene, she said.
“My house was bright like as if I put the light on,” Thompson said.
Tyreek, 15, estimated that he heard five or six shots and described the Springfield Gardens neighborhood as quiet.
“Every once in a while we hear gunshots, but no one pays attention,” he said.
Reach Managing Editor Christina Santucci by phone at 718-260-4589 or by email at timesledgerphotos@gmail.com.
