City’s First Murders In So. Jam., B’wick
A Richmond Hill man was the first New York City resident to be murdered in 2014 when he was fatally shot in South Jamaica early last Wednesday morning, Jan. 1, it was reported.
Less than two hours later, police stated, a Bushwick man was shot to death in what became the city’s second homicide of the new year.
Law enforcement sources identified the victim in the South Jamaica shooting as Julio Mora, 22, of 88th Avenue.
The following day, the NYPD released the image of a man wanted in connection with the murder. He is identified as Sheldon Smith, 26, who stands 6′-tall, weighs 160 lbs. and has brown eyes and black hair.
Officers from the 113th Precinct found Mora mortally wounded at a location on 113th Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 155th Street at around 1:14 a.m. New Year’s morning.
Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced Mora dead at the location. His body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
Police initially indicated Mora died from stab wounds to his chest, but the autopsy concluded he succumbed to what turned out to be a gunshot wound, authorities noted.
The circumstances leading up to the murder remain under investigation by the NYPD Queens Homicide Squad, police said.
As for the Bushwick shooting, law enforcement sources said 17- year-old Malik Bhola of Laurelton was gunned down in front of 1462 Bushwick Ave. just before 3 a.m. Wednesday.
He was found with gunshot wounds to the chest and transported to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
As of press time Wednesday, no arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.
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Anyone with any information regarding the homicides that could prove helpful is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800- 577-TIPS; by text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
