By Joe Anuta
A 20-year-old South Richmond Hill man was shot and killed outside a party several blocks from his home early Sunday morning, police said.
At about 4:45 a.m. Sunday, police responded to 109-34 132nd St. and found Frank Keith with a gunshot wound to the torso, according to the NYPD.
An ambulance rushed Keith to New York Hospital of Queens, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Neighbors, who all declined to be named because they did not want to be identified as giving information about the shooting, said weekend house parties are the norm at the residence where police responded.
One man said he heard a large group of young people outside on the street, several houses away from the where the party took place, and young men yelling “Get him” before a gunshot rang out.
Several residents were walking the sidewalks around 9 a.m. in the crisp, cold morning as police investigators knocked on doors along the residential street.
One man said the parties rarely turned violent, and that he was shocked that somebody was shot.
But three women who congregated in a driveway said the neighborhood has been getting worse since the recession.
They said a nearby store was held up recently and a woman and an elderly couple were robbed.
“We used to have our front doors open in the summertime and the kids could play outside,” one woman said. “Not anymore. Even when we go in the garage we close the front door.”
Officers did not think the shooting was gang-related, but merely an argument at a party that took a deadly turn.
Police were asking residents for footage from security cameras perched on the rooftops of several neighboring houses in hopes of collecting more evidence in the case.
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 Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
