By Ivan Pereira
Police were looking for clues in an early morning shooting in Jamaica Monday that took the life of a Baisley Houses man.
Joe Nash, 37, was found with a gunshot wound to his hip near the corner of 172nd Street and Jamaica Avenue shortly after midnight, police said. An ambulance rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, but he was declared dead once he got to the medical center, according to investigators.
No arrests had been made and no suspects were identified as of press time Tuesday afternoon, police said. The investigation was ongoing.
Nash lived with his mother at the Baisley Houses projects and is also survived by a sister, according to family friends. His mother refused to speak at length while she was mourning his death at her home.
“He was very friendly,” she said before closing the door.
Neighbors joined the mother to help console her.
“I pray to God from now until the time that they put him under that she makes it through,” said a neighbor who would only identify herself as Barbara.
The street where Nash was found is filled with auto body shops and a grocery store, but almost all of the businesses were closed during the time of the shooting. Sources close to the investigation, however, have said Nash was found near a building that has been known to host illegal gambling games, but the source did not know if that was the reason he was killed.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), text 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.
