By Dustin Brown
A man who had been shot twice on Roosevelt Island Monday night hailed a cab into Long Island City and sought medical attention from an ambulance that was idling at a 21st Street gas station, police said.
The 21-year-old victim, whose name was not released by police, was shot once in the right leg at 5:58 p.m. in front of 4 River Rd. on Roosevelt Island, police said. He was then struck in the back by a second bullet when he turned around to flee.
Jamon Walker, 20, of 4 River Rd., was arrested the following day and charged with attempted murder in connection with the case, police said.
After he was shot, the victim hailed a cab and told the driver to take him immediately to a hospital, police said.
But after crossing the bridge into Queens, the taxi stopped at the Amoco station at 21st Street and 38th Avenue because the driver saw a Fire Department ambulance parked there.
“He stopped right here in the middle of the pumps and I went outside because he was blocking the whole place,” said Andy Kalas, the assistant manager at the station.
But the driver immediately jumped out of the car and sought help from the ambulance, which had stopped at the gas station so that a member of the crew could use the restroom.
The victim, a resident of Main Street on Roosevelt Island, was soon lifted onto a stretcher and treated by the ambulance crew before being transported to Elmhurst Hospital.
“He was screaming, he was in pain, he couldn’t feel his leg,” Kalas said.
Although the victim was admitted to Elmhurst Hospital that evening, a spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon that he had left the premises at an unknown hour without explanation.
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
