By Ivan Pereira
Police apprehended three men who they say were connected to a targeted shooting that left one man dead and another seriously injured on the streets of South Jamaica Monday afternoon.
The incident took place at the corner of 164th Street and 109th Avenue around 3 p.m. when Sam Deas, 31, was shot in the head, police said. A second man who was allegedly part of the same incident was found shot in the chest in a house less than a block away, according to police.
Both victims were rushed to Jamaica Hospital, but Deas was pronounced dead at the facility, police said. The other victim was listed in critical condition as of press time Tuesday, police said.
Three men, ages 18, 27 and 47, were taken into custody by police Monday, but no charges were issued, the authorities said. A silver Desert Eagle handgun was left near the scene of the crime.
The investigation was ongoing.
Neighbors who live near the block, which had unplowed streets and several abandoned homes, said they were not surprised the shooting had occurred because the area has frequent crime.
“This is nothing new here,” said a resident who asked not to be named.
This marked the third murder of the year for the 103rd Precinct, which covers the areas of Jamaica, Hollis and Lakewood, according to the latest NYPD statistics released Feb. 14. During the same period last year, the precinct had two reported homicides, according to the NYPD.
Overall crime in the precinct has increased by 9.25 percent from 2009 to this year. There were 189 reported incidents as of Feb. 14, 2010, compared to 173 during the same period last year, according to statistics.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, text 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.
