By Ivan Pereira
A Brooklyn man was killed last Thursday morning when he was shot several times while sitting in the front seat of his luxury sedan in Jamaica, police said.
As of press time Tuesday, the authorities had not found the people responsible for murdering Damien Champell, 37, who was shot to death inside his black BMW 530i that was parked at the corner of Sutphin Boulevard and 109th Avenue.
The shooting took place around 5:30 a.m. and woke up several residents who lived on the block.
“I heard four or five gunshots. It was like pop pop pop pop,” said a resident who asked not to be identified.
Champell was shot in the head, arm and stomach and was rushed to Jamaica Hospital but was pronounced dead when he arrived, police said. The investigation is ongoing.
Two other people were inside the car that had Florida licence plates, but they did not appear to have been shot, according to eyewitnesses. Residents said the area has seen an influx of crime, including drugs and prostitution, but the police would not reveal the cause of the shooting.
This is the eighth murder to take place this year in the 103rd Precinct, which covers the area. Overall, crime in the neighborhood is up slightly from 2009 with 930 reported incidents this year compared to 928 the previous year, a 22 percent growth, according to NYPD statistics.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, text their tips to 274637 then enter TIP577 or log on to nypdcrimestoppers.com. All reports will be kept confidential.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
