Man killed in shooting at Ocean Hill, Brooklyn subway station
NEW YORK -- A shooting late Wednesday night at a subway station in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn, left a 47-year-old man dead.
Police are now searching for the gunman, who they say shot the victim, identified as Freddie Weston, in the head on the mezzanine level of the Rockaway Avenue station just after 11 p.m.
Weston was rushed to Brookdale Hospital, but died on the way there.
Police were later seen walking around the neighborhood and into nearby businesses to speak with potential witnesses and to check surveillance video to help piece together the moments leading up to the gun violence.
Police sources said an MTA station worker heard the shot, but didn't see the shooter or witness any type of dispute. Sources added there are no cameras in the mezzanine where Weston was shot. The transit agency said it is working with the NYPD.
"We have cameras in our station. Over half of our cars have cameras, so I think the reality is we will ... the NYPD will find the individual," said Demetrius Crichlow, interim president of New York City Transit.
So far, police have not provided a description of the shooter.
"He took my guy from me"
CBS News New York spoke exclusively with the victim's family members, who were distraught and perplexed as to why it happened.
Derrick Weston said his brother was en route to work when he was gunned down.
"My brother wasn't a street person. He's not a threat. If you shoot him in the head, that's a lot of anger," Derrick Weston said. "He was a really good person, always trying to get himself together. He was always [that] person. He always had the biggest heart. Like if you talk to him, he always smiling."
Freddie Weston's niece, Sherika, said his nickname was "Junior."
"He got along with everybody. So for the way this went down, I can't even believe it," she said. "He was my guy. He took my guy from me. They took my guy."
She said her uncle left behind a very large family that loved him. He was the youngest of seven siblings.
"Say something. Junior did not deserve this. He did not deserve this," Sherika said.
Victim had a troubled past
Police have not yet confirmed if Freddie Weston was targeted, but his family believes he was, though they said they do not know why.
NYPD sources said Freddie Weston was arrested eight times, most recently in 2021 for weapon possession, and prior to that in 2013. He did not serve jail time.
NYPD transit stats show this is the eighth murder in the transit system so far this year, compared to five during the same period last year.
Overall, transit crime is down more than 5%.
Ocean Hill residents react to deadly subway shooting
Residents told CBS News New York the shooting left them on edge, but they also noted the area is no stranger to violence.
"I'm a little nervous about it. I'm scared, because I have a loved one who lives around here, and I'm worried for her safety, I'm worried for the neighborhood population. I hope the city is able to solve it and figure out what happened," one man said. "When things like this happen, it hits close to home."
"I'm a little frightened, because I take the train, myself. That's a problem for me," said another person. "It's not uncommon over here, though. We live close to the projects. Each corner is a project."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.