Life mimicked art on a Brooklyn street Tuesday morning when a gunman executed a 31-year-old man who was apparently enforcing a no-parking zone for an upcoming shoot of “Law and Order: Organized Crime.”
Police said the deadly shooting took place around 5:23 a.m. on July 19 in front of an apartment house on North Henry Street, near Norman Avenue in Greenpoint.
According to WABC-TV, the victim, Johnny Pizarro, 31, a production assistant on Palmetto Street in Ridgewood, Queens, was shot dead while parking spaces on North Henry Street in preparation for the filming of the popular drama franchise. NBC criminal known for stories. “snatch of headlines”.
A police source familiar with the case said the victim was enforcing prohibited parking rules on the block before filming.
Police officers 94, in response to reports of the shooting, found Pizarro shot in the face and neck.
After a preliminary investigation, authorities said, detectives determined Pizarro had been sitting inside a parked vehicle when the unidentified shooter approached, opened the driver’s side door in the vehicle and began to search. shoot.
A pink “No Parking” sign on North Henry Street, where the shooting took place. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell Poice and Crime Scene Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a member of the production of Law & Order: Organized Crime on North Henry Street and Norman Avenue on Tuesday. , July 19.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell Poice and Crime Scene Detectives investigate the fatal shooting of a member of the Law & Order Organized Crime production on North Henry Street and Norman Avenue on Tuesday, July 19.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
The motive for the shooting is unknown and is under investigation, according to police sources. Pizarro is believed to have been the shooter’s intended target, a source familiar with the case said.
EMS took Pizarro to Woodhull Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Detectives continue to search for the shooter, who was described as a man of average build and thin build, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.
Throughout Tuesday day, real-life detectives investigated North Henry Street, looking for evidence and possible witnesses to the murder.
A resident of the neighborhood said local drivers constantly have meats with film and television production companies that frequent the area and end up closing blocks to park vehicles and related equipment.
“It’s a battle between producers and trying to find parking,” the resident said. “They put up signs all the time, the producers put them up all the time. I’m upset that this happened to a production assistant. “
NBC and Universal Television issued a statement on Tuesday mourning the lost crew member: “We were saddened and surprised that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime this morning and has died as a result. working with local law enforcement while they continue to investigate. Our heart is with your family and friends, and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time. “
Anyone with information about the homicide can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-TRACK). You can also post tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
With the report by Lloyd Mitchell
Updated July 19 at 1:50 p.m.