By Ivan Pereira
A 21-year-old man was killed on Halloween evening outside the Bland Houses in Flushing, police said.
The unidentified victim was found outside 133-50 Roosevelt Ave. around 5:45 p.m. with a gunshot wound to his head, investigators said. He was rushed to New York Hospital Queens, where he was declared dead, according to police.
As of press time Tuesday, there were no arrests and no suspects had been identified.
Residents who live in the housing project said they did not know about the murder, but officers were patrolling the apartment buildings throughout the night and early the next morning.
Detectives were also investigating a nearby karaoke bar on Roosevelt Avenue. The owner of the establishment was unavailable for comment by press time Tuesday.
This is the seventh homicide to take place in the 109th Precinct so far this year, according to NYPD statistics that were last updated Oct. 23, compared to six in the same period last year.
The precinct, which covers the neighborhoods of downtown Flushing, East Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace, had six reported murders during the same period last year, police statistics show.
There have been 1,463 reported incidents in the precinct so far in 2011, a 4.81 percent drop in crimes from the 1,537 incidents that took place during the same period last year.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), text their tips to 274637 (crimes) 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.
