By Sarina Trangle
A 20-year-old Briarwood man was found shot dead on an Ozone Park street early Saturday morning, police said.
Officers said they arrived at the corner of 103rd Avenue and 108th Street around 5 a.m., where Branden Santiago was found wearing a helmet with two gunshot wounds to the head near a scooter.
The Police Department said first responders brought Santiago, to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Officers said it was unclear exactly how Santiago, a Briarwood resident, was connected to the black bike.
As of Saturday afternoon, police said they had made no arrests.
Police taped off the intersection and were seen investigating clothing and what appeared to be shell casings on the street Saturday morning.
Passersby stopped to watch officers at work. Many said they did not hear gunfire or sirens, but woke up to see their neighborhood swarming with police.
“We were going to walk that way and then I saw what happened,” said Jacqueline Ramos, gesturing to the yellow police tape wrapped around the block and police snapping photos of evidence. “This is a good neighborhood. That’s why I live here.”
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
