A tragic incident unfolded on a Monday evening when a 34-year-old individual sustained life-threatening injuries after an attacker fired at him multiple times near a smoke shop in Richmond Hill. The occurrence took place in front of Sky High Exotic, located at 119-11 Jamaica Ave, where the man was spending time with a female companion.
The incident originated when a heated argument erupted within Sky High Exotic between the suspect and the woman accompanying the critically wounded man. After the confrontation, the combustive individual followed the woman out of the smoke shop’s premises onto the public street.
In front of the smoke shop on Jamaica Avenue, the dispute took a turn for the worse. The situation rapidly escalated when the enraged suspect, taking out a pistol from his waist-bag, directed lethal force towards the man who had hustled to stand up for his companion against the apparent threat.
The perpetrator’s assault was brutal, resulting in eight bullet injuries inflicted upon various parts of the victim’s body. Details about the horrific event were relayed by a representative from the New York Police Department.
Following the attack, witnesses spotted the assailant and an accompanying individual hastily fleeing the scene. The pair managed to escape detection and pursuit, initially moving west on Jamaica Avenue before suddenly changing course to head south along Lefferts Boulevard.
In reaction to the incident, police officers from the precinct 102 hurriedly arrived at the scene. This followed the swift reception of a call to the police’s emergency hotline, detailing the tragic incident and urging prompt law enforcement intervention.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement made a grim discovery – the injured man, now lying motionless on the sidewalk. Despite the late hour and the chaotic situation, the brave officers adhered strictly to their duty, working promptly to secure the scene and initiate necessary emergency procedures.
Medical emergency responders were immediately called to the incident site. Their arrival marked the next phase of the stressful evening as the healthcare professionals engaged in a desperate race against time to save the severely wounded man.
The victim, rapidly losing vital signs, was hastily transported to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Upon his arrival at the healthcare facility, medical practitioners listed his condition as critical. It was a distressing situation, as the man’s life seemingly hanged in a delicate balance.
Eyewitness accounts of the event were varied, but one detail remained consistent. Certain parties attested to seeing two men fleeing the scene in the aftermath of the shooting. However, despite the collective effort to piece together coherent descriptions of the suspects, details remained noticeably vague and elusive.
The investigation into this horrific incident remains ongoing, and the NYPD is urging anyone with potential leads to reach out. Individuals possessing any information that could aid in the case are encouraged to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or the Spanish hotline at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
For those who prefer electronic communication, the public can also submit their information via the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org. The NYPD wishes to assure the public that all forms of communication are treated with absolute confidentiality to protect their identity.
Up until the date of the incident, the 102nd precinct had recorded seven significant shooting incidents within the year of 2024, reflecting an alarming pattern of increased violence in the area. The figure marks a worrying 40% rise in such incidents compared to the same time frame in the previous year, according to the most recently released CompStat report.