19-Year-Old Shot In Head Outside Bodega Near His Brooklyn Home
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD is searching for a gunman who shot and killed a 19-year-old last night in Brooklyn.
The victim was killed outside a bodega in East New York, just steps away from where he lived.
Police responded around 6:45 p.m. to Elton Street and New Lots Avenue.
Officers found 19-year-old Jeremiah Dickey unconscious and unresponsive after being shot in the head.
He was rushed to Brookdale Hospital, but did not survive.
Friends say the teen was known to frequent bodegas in the area and help out the employees.
CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis spoke with an employee inside the bodega who said he knew Dickey.
"He's a nice boy, he's good. I came before a lot of times. I know him and he knows me. He's young, I think like he's 18 or 19 years," he said. "I never see him [have a] problem with nobody. But I came 4 o'clock in here, I heard about it. I'm sorry for that."
"I feel sorry. I really feel sorry because maybe for 15 minutes before, he was here. Always smiling and joking," bodega employee Amer Shammakah said.
Police believe this was a targeted shooting, but the motive is unclear.
The suspect is likely in his 20s and was last seen wearing a blue coat and light blue jeans.
An NYPD patrol car remains on the scene as the search for him continues.