By Christina Santucci
A 23-year-old man was gunned down in Richmond Hill early Sunday after several men tried to jump him, police and the man’s friends said.
Officers were called to Liberty Avenue and 112th Street at about 3:30 a.m. and found the man with gunshot wounds to the torso, the NYPD said.
Emergency responders took the shooting victim to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to cops. An investigation was ongoing, police said.
Friends who gathered around a makeshift memorial of flowers and candles Sunday afternoon identified the man killed as Gerrard Edwards, and said he worked for a home health company delivering hospital beds and other medical supplies.
“He looked out for everyone,” said Nelissa Sankar. “He had a golden heart.”
Edwards grew up in Richmond Hill, but his parents no longer live in Queens, friends said.
“He was always smiling, the life of the party,” said a friend, who didn’t want to be identified and added that Edwards was a fan of the musician Drake.
The friend said Edwards and a few buddies were hanging out on the corner when several men got into a fight with Edwards and tried to jump him.
“One of them pulled out a gun and shot five times,” he said.
Junior Vassell said he came outside after the altercation had begun and saw his friend get shot.
“Gerrard turned around and he went to sit on the floor, and that was that,” he said.
“He was like a brother to me,” Vassell said. “He was my best friend.”
Reach managing editor Christina Santucci by e-mail at timesledgerphotos@gmail.com by phone at 718-260-4589.
