By Ivan Pereira
Residents on a quiet Rosedale street said they woke up to a horrific sight last Thursday morning.
A man was found dead inside his car, which was parked on the corner of 247th Street and 143rd Avenue, around 9 a.m., police said. Homeowners said they called 911 after they saw a man who appeared to be the driver, Mark Shaw, 28, of Springfield Gardens, slumped on the steering wheel of a red Hyundai with a gunshot wound to his head.
“I came out of my house and saw the car with the guy,” said a resident who refused to give his name. “He was curved in his seat and the engine was still running.”
Officers from the 105th Precinct arrived on the scene shortly afterward and found two shell casings near the vehicle, but no weapon was discovered, according to police. Shaw's corpse was in the car for a couple of hours before it was discovered, police said.
No arrests had been made as of press time and the investigation was ongoing. A spokeswoman for the city's medical examiner. said the office could not determine when Shaw was murdered but said he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
For hours, residents watched in shock from their doorsteps as investigators removed the corpse from the sedan.
Wayne Morris, who lives less than a block from the murder scene, said he had never seen Shaw's car in his neighborhood before and was surprised that he was murdered on such a quiet street.
“You don't even hear a dog fight around here. This is shocking,” he said.
It was the third homicide this yearwithin the jurisdiction of the 105th Precinct, which covers Laurelton, Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Bellerose, Glen Oaks, New Hyde Park and Floral Park.
According to NYPD crime statistics, dated April 13 overall crime in the 105 has the murder rate within the precinct remained the same as the same time in 2007 with two reported homicides. Despite the increase in reported murders, overall crime decreased 9.29 percent from the same point last year with 527 reported incidents in 2008, according to statistics.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
