By Peter A. Sutters Jr.
Joel Karmody, 16, was standing on the stoop at his home on 228th Street, one block off Linden Boulevard, when an unknown male walked up to him and shot him in the leg, back, and stomach before fleeing on foot and jumping into a car a short distance away, police said.”I heard three shots,” said a neighbor who wished to remain nameless. “I saw the guy lying on the ground. He was yelling.” The neighbor also said she saw someone running down the street toward Linden Boulevard.”All I saw was his back,” she said. “I was shaken up by it.”Karmody's mother, Linda Karmody, was not home at the time of the shooting, but said her son is doing well in the hospital.”He's okay. He's coming along,” said Linda. “I just hope to God he is going to be fine.”Karmody said she had heard a few rumors around the neighborhood about why the shooting happened, but did not want to comment because she did not know if they were true.The incident occurred next to a house where a day care center for about eight children is operated, but because the shooting took place around 9:30 p.m., there were no youngsters there at the time, according to the owner of the day care. Police said the suspect was seen fleeing into a car described as dark in color, but it was unclear if he was the driver or if an accomplice was involved. There have been two homicides in the 105th Precinct caused by guns so far this year, but it is unknown how many shooting incidents have taken place because they are lumped together with other all other felony assaults in police statistics. The first murder earlier this year occurred on Jan. 11 in Laurelton when a man was shot dead while playing a video game inside the Fantastic International Unisex Barber Shop on Merrick Boulevard. The second happened March 23 when the body of a Bronx man was discovered in Queens Village, although police said it is unknown if the man was shot in the area or if his body was dumped there after he was shot elsewhere. Reach reporter Peter A. Sutters Jr. by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 173.
