Independence Day bloodbath
One man was killed and two others were left wounded during a July 4 shooting in East Flatbush.
Police said the three victims were attending a party on Rogers Avenue between Newkirk and Foster avenues at 5:17 am when an unidentified gunman charged up and opened fire, hitting all three.
Witnesses told investigators that the gunman may have also been at the party, but was asked to leave earlier in the night for acting unruly.
When cops arrived at the scene, two of the victims had been hit in the arms. The third victim, identified as Michael Gonzales, of Tennis Court Lane, was hit in the chest. Gonzales died of his wounds a short time later at Kings County Hospital.
The other two victims were treated and released.
Cops were still looking for the shooter by late Tuesday.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Chain ripper
A thief ripped a chain off a man’s neck on July 6, but didn’t get far with his new prize.
Officials said that the 23-year-old suspect jumped his victim near the corner of Nostrand and Church avenues at 3:25 am, snagging the chain and the cross pendant that dangled from it. He also threatened his victim with a metal bat before pouncing.
Cops caught up with the thief a short time later, charging him with robbery in the first degree.
Scooter stealer
A puttering perpetrator made off with a man’s motor scooter on July 3, but ended up motoring directly to jail.
Officials said the 26-year-old thief motored off with the scooter as it sat on Willmohr Street between East 92nd and East 93rd streets at 3 am.
The owner of the scooter identified and confronted the thief on July 5, only to have the suspect wig out on him and smash the lobby windows of the victim’s building.
Cops took the thief into custody after a brief investigation, charging him with grand larceny, criminal mischief and menacing.
Attacked for cell
Two thieves jumped a man on July 2 in a failed bid for a cell phone and some other property.
Police said the suspects found their victim at the corner of Beverly Road and Coney Island Avenue at 11:39 pm and attacked, kicking and punching him in the head.
They then ran off with the victim’s wallet and cell phone, but they didn’t get far — cops rounded them up a short time later, charging them with robbery.
Parking lot mug
A thief swiped a woman’s handbag during a confrontation inside a Utica Avenue parking lot on July 2.
The victim said she parked her car between avenues H and I at 7:30 pm and had just exited her vehicle when the suspect attacked, running off with her property.
Cabbie gunned down
A livery cab driver was shot down on June 22 following a botched robbery.
Officials said the victim was shot somewhere along Parade Place, near Crooke Avenue, at 1:30 am and tried to drive away, but the chest wound he received was too great and he ultimately crashed into a line of parked cars.
Paramedics rushed him to Kings County Hospital, where he died of his wounds.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Wipe out graffiti
As the ongoing war against graffiti vandalism continues, cops are now offering a $500 reward to anyone with information that can lead them to graffiti vandals.
The hefty reward is part of the city’s new push to rid New York of graffiti, which is one of the leading quality of life complaints brought to police.
Officials said that cleaning up graffiti is essential to the plan, to show that the community is no longer going to tolerate marred and tagged-up walls and street corners.
According to police, there is a perception that if a community will tolerate graffiti, they will tolerate other criminal activities, such as drug dealing and prostitution.
Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism in their neighborhood is urged to contact either 311 or 911.
